ArticleBMC health services research2025
Gender differences in health-seeking behaviour: insights from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019.
Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Gendered experiences of people living with tuberculosis or leprosy: A global systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Assessment of Mpox knowledge and attitudes among health workers in Egypt and Arab countries based on a national survey and a meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- Evaluation of the effects of A-PRF and oral dexamethasone use on postoperative complications in third molar extraction: a split-mouth randomized-controlled trial.BMC oral health · 2026Trial
- Willingness to accept the Dengue vaccine among adult Malaysians - An online survey.Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2026Article
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- Time analysis of hospital costs for respiratory diseases in Brazil, 1998-2021.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Musician's Dystonia: Long-Term-Effects and Influencing Factors.Toxins · 2026Article
- Diet quality and depressive symptoms in older adults, assessing the effect modification by genetic predisposition and low-grade inflammation: a target trial emulation.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Trends in Emergency Department utilization by disease categories in a migrant-dense high-income setting: a retrospective study in Dubai, 2021-2025.International journal of emergency medicine · 2026Article
- The impact of climatic factors on headache patterns: a 14-year time series analysis of cluster and tension-type headaches in primary care.Journal of oral & facial pain and headache · 2026Article
- Short-Term Safety and Adverse Event Risk Profiles for SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccine Doses in Australian Adults: A Survey Study.The Medical journal of Australia · 2026Article
- Insights into the seroprevalence ofOne health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026Article
- Understanding Gender Gaps in Tobacco Consumption among Middle-Aged and Elderly Indians: Decomposition Analysis of LASI 2017-18.Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2026Article
- Progress and Disparities in Lung Cancer Screening in Japan: A Bayesian Analysis Toward Achieving Health Japan 21 Targets.Cancers · 2026Article
- Factors associated with healthcare seeking behavior from private clinics among patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.BMC health services research · 2026Article
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- The Association of Inorganic Arsenic Exposure with Hypertension and High Blood Pressure Among African Caribbean Adults in Tobago.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Risk Factors for Keratoconus in Young Adults Assessed with Tomography and Corneal Biomechanics: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.Ophthalmology science · 2026Article
- Visual field progression in varying severities of treated patients with primary angle closure glaucoma.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- All-cause and cause-specific mortality in social anxiety disorder: a matched cohort and sibling cohort study.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundHealth-seeking behaviour involves actions taken by individuals who feel unwell to seek remedies and varies based on cognitive and non-cognitive factors like sex, age, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare. Gender roles significantly impact health outcomes with the COVID-19 pandemic further accentuating the gender disparity in public health compliance. Using secondary data from a national health survey, this article aims to assess the gender-based characteristics and factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among the population in Malaysia.
methodsThis study was a secondary data analysis of the NHMS 2019, a cross-sectional national health survey using Andersen's Behavioural Model. It evaluated factors influencing self-medication and treatment-seeking based on socio-demographics, enabling conditions, and perceived health needs. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were conducted to identify factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among men and women.
resultsThis study analysed the health-seeking behaviours of 10,933 Malaysian adults, representing 19.7 million people. The overall prevalence of sickness was 16.1% (95% CI = 14.8-17.4), with higher rates in women (18.1%; 95% CI = 95% CI = 16.3-19.9). Among those who were sick, 56.4% (95% CI = 52.9-60.0) sought professional treatment while 23.0% (95% CI = 19.8-26.2) self-medicated. Regression analysis showed that urban women and those rating their health poorly were more likely to seek professional care, while Chinese, those with no formal education, and retiree women were more likely to self-medicate. Among males, those with long-term condition are more likely to seek treatment while students were less likely to self-medicate compared to private employees.
conclusionThe study reveals significant gender and sociodemographic disparities in health-seeking behaviour amongst Malaysian men and women. The factors that influence these health-seeking behaviour is unique for each gender. This emphasises the importance of targeted interventions which are gender-sensitive to address structural inequities and achieve equitable healthcare utilisation across all demographic groups in Malaysia.
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