Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between immunization coverage and health-seeking behaviour has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected States in South-West Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected States in South-West Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While immunization coverage is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on health-seeking behaviour within Selected States in South-West Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to immunization coverage are helping or hindering health-seeking behaviour — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Immunization Coverage on health-seeking behaviour in Selected States in South-West Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which immunization coverage influences health-seeking behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with immunization coverage in relation to health-seeking behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing immunization coverage in order to improve health-seeking behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of immunization coverage on health-seeking behaviour in Selected States in South-West Nigeria?
2. To what extent does immunization coverage influence health-seeking behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with immunization coverage in relation to health-seeking behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize immunization coverage in order to improve health-seeking behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of public health, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected States in South-West Nigeria seeking to understand how immunization coverage translates into measurable outcomes around health-seeking behaviour. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected States in South-West Nigeria, focusing specifically on how immunization coverage relates to health-seeking behaviour within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.