scholarly journals RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF HEALTHCARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN KOGI STATE

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1067-1073
Author(s):  
Seidu Nuhu A. ◽  

In recent years, efforts have been devoted to enhancing the health care system of Nigeria to provide efficient and reliable health care services to the people. However, insinuations suggest that many people are not utilizing the available healthcare facilities, especially in rural communities. Perhaps, religious attachment is a significant determinant of several behavioral domains. The present study aimed to examine variations in HSB among the rural dwellers of Kogi State, Nigeria, based on religious commitment. Two hundred and sixty-nine Muslim and Christian worshipers chosen from religious centers in different locations of the state participated in the study. The respondents completed a self-report measure of healthcare-seeking behavior and the religious commitment inventory. The result of regression analysis indicated a positive influence of religious commitment on healthcare-seeking behaviors in rural populations. It was concluded that religious commitment should be included in the focus of the healthcare providers in providing all-inclusive care for rural dwellers in Kogi state.

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Bellete ◽  
Moges Muluneh Boke ◽  
Melaku Kindie Yenit

Abstract Background Appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior and access to the health care facility is key to improving health service utilization. Although the accessibility of comprehensive childhood disease intervention services in Ethiopia has been modified at the community level, the use of such health care services has remained limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the healthcare-seeking behavior of common childhood illness and its determinants. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was used. A multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit eight hundred and thirty-four study participants. A pre-tested and standardized questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were visually checked for incompleteness and entered into the statistical software Epi-info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 software for descriptive and bi-variable analysis. To identify variables associated with the healthcare-seeking behavior. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were used to see the strength of association, and variables with P-values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The proportion of health care seeking behavior of care-givers for childhood illness was 69.5% (95% CI, 66.4, 72.4%). The education level of caregiver (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.01–2.60), knowledge of childhood illness (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.46–2.79), cough (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.39–2.71) and diarrhea (AOR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.46–2.99) as main symptoms of illness and perceived severity of illness (AOR:3.12, 95% CI: 2.22–4.40) were significantly associated with healthcare-seeking behaviors of caregivers. Conclusion Low healthcare-seeking behavior was observed for childhood illnesses. Educational level, knowledge of childhood illness, cough, and diarrhea as primary symptoms of illness, and perceived severity of caregiver illness were significant associated with healthcare-seeking behavior. Therefore, interventions that strengthen the caregiver’s awareness of childhood illness and danger signs need to be considered. Besides, addressing the identified associated variables to healthcare-seeking behavior is critically important to curb the problem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigatu Regassa Geda ◽  
Cindy Xin Feng ◽  
Susan J. Whiting ◽  
Rein Lepnurm ◽  
Carol J. Henry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Childhood morbidities such as diarrhea and pneumonia are the leading causes of death in Ethiopia. Appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior of mothers for common childhood illnesses could prevent a significant number of these early deaths; however, little nation-wide research has been conducted in Ethiopia to assess mothers’ healthcare-seeking behavior for their under five children. Methods The study used the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) data. The EDHS is a cross sectional survey conducted in 2016 on a nationally representative sample of 10,641 respondents. The main determinants of care-seeking during diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses while adjusting for complex survey design. Results Only 43% and 35% of households sought medical attention for their children in episodes of diarrhea and ARI, respectively, during a reference period of 2 weeks before the survey. The odds of seeking care for diarrhea are lower for non-working mothers versus working mothers. The likelihood of seeking care for diarrhea or ARI is higher for literate fathers compared to those with no education. The place of delivery for the child, receiving postnatal checkup and getting at least one immunization in the past determined the likelihood of seeking care for ARI, but not for diarrhea. The odds of seeking care are higher for both diarrhea and ARI among households that are headed by females and where mothers experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) violence. Religion and types of family structure are also significant factors of seeking care for diarrhea episodes, but not for ARI. Conclusions The findings call for more coordinated efforts to ensure equitable access to health care services focusing on mothers living in deprived household environment. Strengthening partnerships with public facilities, private health care practitioners, and community-based organizations in rural areas would help further improve access to the services.


Author(s):  
Yanbing Zeng ◽  
Yuanyuan Wan ◽  
Zhipeng Yuan ◽  
Ya Fang

This study aimed to investigate the patterns and predictive factors of healthcare-seeking behavior among older Chinese adults. A sample of 10,914 participants aged ≥60 years from the 2011, 2013 and 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) was included. The bivariate analyses and Heckman selection model was used to identify predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior. Results shows that the utilization rate of outpatient services increased from 21.61% in 2011 to 32.41% in 2015, and that of inpatient services increased from 12.44% to 17.68%. In 2015, 71.93% and 92.18% chose public medical institutions for outpatient and inpatient services, 57.63% and 17.00% chose primary medical institutions. The individuals who were female, were younger, lived in urban, central or western regions, had medical insurance, had poor self-rated health and exhibited activity of daily living (ADL) impairment were more inclined to outpatient and inpatient services. Transportation, medical expenses, the out-of-pocket ratio and the urgency of the disease were associated with provider selection. The universal medical insurance schemes improved health service utilization for the elderly population but had little impact on the choice of medical institutions. The older adults preferred public institutions to private institutions, preferred primary institutions for outpatient care, and higher-level hospitals for hospitalization.


2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zelda Wasserman ◽  
Susanna C.D. Wright ◽  
Todd M. Maja

Low literacy can be described as the inability to read, write or use numbers effectively. The limited ability to read and understand health care instructions directly translates into poor health outcomes.The aim of this study was to assess the English literacy levels of primary health care patients using the Learning Ability Battery (LAB) and the adapted Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy, Revised(REALM-R) and to determine how the results of the adapted REALM-R correlate with those of the LAB. Data were collected by means of a self-report whereby the participants had to answer the questions that were posed in the LAB and read the words out loud for the adapted REALM-R.The data analysis was performed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics, including the chi-square test and Spearman’s rho.The result of the study indicated that in South Africa, school grades achieved and the reading levels of primary health care patients differ with four grades.In terms of the correlation between the results of the adapted REALM-R and those of the LAB, a correlation of r = 0.43 (p < 0.001) could be established. Depending on the cut-off point used for the adapted REALM-R, 67% of the participants had low literacy levels. The study provides evidence of the importance of a validated, quick and easy-to-administer literacy screening tool. The effective assessment of patients’ literacy levels will assist registered professional nurses to provide health education on an appropriate level to improve patients’ health literacy. OpsommingLae geletterdheidsvlakke kan beskryf word as ’n persoon se onvermoë om doeltreffend te lees, te skryf of syfers te gebruik. Die beperkte vermoë om te lees en gesondheidsorgvoorskrifte te verstaan,gee direk tot swak gesondheidsuitkomste aanleiding. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die Engelse geletterdheidsvlakke van primêregesondheidsorg-pasiënte deur middel van twee instrumente,naamlik die Learning Ability Battery (LAB) en die aangepasde Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy, Revised(REALM-R) te assesseer. Daar is voorts ook bepaal hoe die resultate van die aangepaste REALM-R met die LAB korreleer. Data is deur self-rapportering ingesamel, waar die deelnemers vrae uit die LAB-instrument moes beantwoord en spesifieke woorde vir die aangepaste REALM-R hardop te lees. Die data is ontleed deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende en inferensiële statistiek, met inbegrip van ’n chikwadraat-toets en Spearman se rho. Die resultate dui daarop dat die skoolgraad bereik en die leesgeletterdheid van die deelnemers in Suid-Afrika met vier grade verskil. Die korrelasie tussen die resultate van die LAB en die aangepaste REALM-R was r = 0.43 (p < 0.001).Na gelang van die afsnypunt wat vir die aangepaste REALM-R gebruik word, dui die resultate daarop dat 67% van die deelnemers lae geletterdheidsvlakke het. Die studie toon die belang van ’n geldige, vinnige instrument vir geletterdheidsifting. Die doeltreffende assessering van pasiënte se geletterdheidsvlakke kan geregistreerde verpleegkundiges help om gesondheidsonderrig op ’n toepaslike vlak aan te bied ten einde pasiënte se gesondheidsgeletterdheid te verbeter.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. McCrone

Background:Investment in innovative mental health care services requires the use of scarce resources that could be used in alternative ways. Economic evaluation is essential to ensure that such an investment is appropriately compared with investment elsewhere.Method:A non-systematic review of mental health evaluations identifies key methodological issues pertaining to economic studies.Results:Economic evaluations require the measurement and combination of costs and outcomes, and clarity about how this measurement is undertaken is required. Regarding costs, important considerations relate to the perspective to be taken (e.g., health service or societal), method of measurement (patient self-report or use of databases) and valuation (actual costs, fees or expenditure). Decision makers frequently need to compare evidence both within and between clinical areas and therefore there is a tension between the use of condition specific and generic outcome measures. Quality-adjusted life years are frequently used in economic evaluations, but their appropriateness in mental health care studies is still debated.Conclusions:Economic evaluations in the area of mental health care are increasing in number and it is essential that researchers continue to develop and improve methods used to conduct such studies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tadesse ◽  
Akine Eshete ◽  
Tadesse Mamo ◽  
Sadat Mohammed

Abstract Background: Many mothers died due to preventable causes in developing countries like Ethiopia. so, this study aims to assess the healthcare-seeking behavior of obstetric danger signs among pregnant and delivered mothers in 1 year before the study period in Kewot districts. Method: A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study design supplemented by qualitative technique was conducted from April 20 -April 30, 2019, in the Kewot district. Pregnant and delivered mothers were selected by systematic random sampling technique and interviewed with a response rate of 98.2%, Using purposive sampling 3 key-informants and 5 mothers were selected for in-depth interview of a qualitative study. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21 and the logistic regressions model was applied to identify the associated factors. Results: A total of 363 participants were involved in the study. Among participants, 211(58.1 %) at (95% CI; CI: 53.7%-63.1%) were sought appropriate health care action. Women who have ANC follow up (AOR=1.735,95%CI:1.107-2.721), knowledgeable about danger sign, (AOR=2.430,95 % CI:1.360-4.342), the decision for own health care seeking (AOR=2.514,95% CI:1.130-5.501), and women who cannot able to judge graveness of condition (AOR=0.509,95% CI:0.302-0.859) were significantly associated with appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior.Conclusion: Having antenatal care follow up, knowledge about danger signs, inability to judge the graveness of conditions and inability to decide alone for own health care were factors that prevent appropriate health care seeking action. So, there should be health information dissemination about danger signs for every pregnant mother in the catchment area and during their visit to health institutions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lunic Base Khoza ◽  
Wilfred Njabulo Nunu ◽  
Bumani Solomon Manganye ◽  
Pfungwa Mambanga ◽  
Shonisani Tshivhase ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite government efforts to improve access to health care services through the re-engineered Primary Health Care and National Health insurance platform, access still remain a challenge particularly in rural areas. The aim of this study was to analyse secondary data on cataract patients who were attended to in selected hospitals in rural Limpopo of South Africa. Methodology A cross section survey was conducted on 411 patient records from five selected hospitals in Vhembe district. A pre tested structured checklist was used to guide retrieval of variables from patient records. The collected data was entered into excel spreadsheet, cleaned and imported into Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 for analysis. Proportions of demographic characteristics were presented and these were cross tabulated with the outcome variable “success of operation” using Chi Squared tests. Results Findings point out that majority of patients who attended hospital for eye services were aged 65 years above and females (63%). There was no association between the tested demographic characteristics and the outcome variable. Most patients were diagnosed in the period 2015-2018 (60%). Over 90% of those that were operated had successful operations. Of the remaining 10% that had unsuccessful operations, 30% cited complications as being the reason why these operations were unsuccessful. Conclusions It is evident from the findings that cataract services offered in rural areas have low impact as they are not accessible to the patient. It is critical to have a worker retention strategy to retain experts.


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