Dr. Gabriel Adakole, a Public Health expert, said that many Nigerians were often confused about what “risk” meant to their health.
Adakole, an Abuja-based practitioner, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adekole was speaking on reasons many Nigerians would not go to see their doctors regularly.
He said that some risks were visible and modifiable such as smoking, but other types weren’t as obvious, like the impact of genetic or environmental risk factors.
“if someone is in good health and no one in their family has a serious illness, they might believe they are not at risk of a specific disease or condition.
“Likewise, if they have been working in a particular job for many years and have yet to experience any ill effects, they may assume that they never will,” he explained.
He said that some Nigerians might resist going to the doctor out of fear.
“Some Nigerians have specific fears associated with doctor’s offices, hospitals, or medical procedures, such as needles. Other people just find the experience generally anxiety-provoking,” he said.
The expert said that sometimes, some Nigerians might be reluctant to seek medical care, even on routine, out of fear that they would be told something was wrong.
“They may refuse to have tests or screenings because they are afraid of receiving a difficult diagnosis or something else they perceive as “bad news”.
He noted that needing to disrobe for a physical exam can also make a person feel vulnerable.
“Some exams, such as those of the breast and prostate, can be especially invasive. Sometimes, some Nigerians may also feel embarrassed seeking health care even when they have symptoms,” he added.
Adakole further said that some Nigerians might not seek health care because doing so would require asking for help, and they wouldn’t want to be burden to others.
“For example, some Nigerians who do not have a car may not want to ask for a ride to the clinic.
“Work, school, and family commitments can also make it more difficult for someone to address their healthcare needs.
“If an appointment would require someone to take time off from work or school, they might fret about the time and money lost or be concerned about falling behind,” he said.
Some health experts have also said that there were many reasons a person might not be able to go to the doctor, even when they needed and wanted to do so.
The experts are of the opinion that if someone had not been to a doctor for a long time, they might want to be encouraged – if not for specific symptoms, then for preventive care.
“If you try to have the conversation and get shut down, consider that your loved one might be facing barriers to getting the care they need.
“If there are ways you can help your loved one, such as offering support, providing transportation, or assisting with finding a doctor, let them know you’re ready and willing to lend a hand.
Creating a calm and nonjudgmental environment to discuss these challenges will help support the loved ones as they consider decisions about their current and future healthcare needs”.
NAN
