Determinants of Occupational Health Service Utilization Among Informal Sector Workers in Lagos Metropolis: An Analytical Study

Informal sector workers constitute the majority of Nigeria's labor force yet remain the group least likely to access occupational health services (OHS). This analytical cross-sectional study investigated the determinants of OHS utilization among informal sector workers in Lagos metropolis, South West Nigeria. Using multi-stage sampling, 480 workers from trading, artisan, and transport sub-sectors were recruited. Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use provided the theoretical framework for examining predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using binary logistic regression. Overall OHS utilization in the previous year was 12.1 percent, far below the sub-Saharan Africa average. Multivariate analysis identified formal sector prior employment (OR: 3.41), secondary education or above (OR: 2.89), proximity to a health facility within one kilometer (OR: 2.67), perceived health need (OR: 4.12), and awareness of occupational health entitlements (OR: 5.28) as significant predictors of utilization. Financial cost and long waiting times were the most powerful structural barriers. This study fills a documented gap in determinant analysis for informal OHS access in megacity contexts and demonstrates the importance of both supply-side and demand-side interventions. Recommendations include subsidized occupational health outreach clinics, community health worker OHS education campaigns, and national health insurance scheme extension to informal workers in Lagos State. Keywords: occupational health utilization, informal workers, Andersen model, determinants, Lagos.