Sámi youth health, the role of climate change, and unique health-seeking behaviour

Background: Malaria is one of the major public health problems in India and climate change is expected to aggravate the situation by opening new windows for transmission, particularlyin the Himalayan region. It is, therefore, essential to identify knowledge gapsand adaptive capacity of communities to the adverse impacts of climate change, to develop adaptation plan and improve resilience. Methods: The adaptive capacity to potential risks of malaria due to climate change was assessed in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, based on the knowledge, attitude, health seeking behaviour, practices and socio-economic status of the communities. The preparedness of health facilities was also assessed in the respective healthcare facilities in view of the threat of climate change. Results: Though communities had basic knowledge about malaria, lack of specific knowledge about breeding sources of mosquitoes, use of traditional protective measures (41%) from mosquito bites, delayed health seeking behaviour by 40% households (2-4 days after illness) were found unsatisfactory.The assessment of health system revealed inadequacies in capacity for beds at CHCs (in 60%), lack of training of staff and logistics in preparedness for the threat of malaria. Conclusion: The general knowledge of communities regarding malaria was satisfactory, but several misconceptions which may affect the vulnerability to future risk of malaria were found. The adaptive capacity was found slightly above average (57.04) owing to the overall good socio-economic status. However, lack of proper health care infrastructure may impact the overall adaptive capacity of the communities to malaria.

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Family networks and healthy behaviour: evidence from Nepal

Health Economics Policy and Law ◽

10.1017/s1744133118000130 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 231-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jolene Skordis ◽

Noemi Pace ◽

Marcos Vera-Hernandez ◽

Imran Rasul ◽

Emla Fitzsimons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Nuclear Family ◽

Randomised Trial ◽

Cluster Randomised Trial ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Family Networks ◽

Ability To Act

AbstractModels of household decision-making commonly focus on nuclear family members as primary decision-makers. If extended families shape the objectives and constraints of households, then neglecting the role of this network may lead to an incomplete understanding of health-seeking behaviour. Understanding the decision-making processes behind care-seeking may improve behaviour change interventions, better intervention targeting and support health-related development goals. This paper uses data from a cluster randomised trial of a participatory learning and action cycle (PLA) through women’s groups, to assess the role of extended family networks as a determinant of gains in health knowledge and health practice. We estimate three models along a continuum of health-seeking behaviour: one that explores access to PLA groups as a conduit of knowledge, another measuring whether women’s health knowledge improves after exposure to the PLA groups and a third exploring the determinants of their ability to act on knowledge gained. We find that, in this context, a larger network of family is not associated with women’s likelihood of attending groups or acquiring new knowledge, but a larger network of husband’s family is negatively associated with the ability to act on that knowledge during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

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ROLE OF HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN CHILD MORTALITY IN THE SLUMS OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932003001317 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 131-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

RENNIE M. D’SOUZA

Keyword(s):

Child Mortality ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Family Health ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Life Threatening

The role of family health-seeking behaviour in under-five-year child mortality was explored through the combined approach of examining health-seeking behaviour regarding treatment generally, and in specific in relation to illness before death. A population-based case control study was carried out during the period 1993–1994 using 222 deaths from diarrhoea and acute respiratory illness (ARI) in children under five years of age in six slums of Karachi as cases, and 419 controls matched on age, disease (diarrhoea and ARI) and slum. Factors significantly associated (p<0·05) with child mortality in the multivariate analysis were: mothers changing healers quickly, using a traditional healer or an unqualified doctor and mothers to whom doctors did not explain the treatment, even when maternal education was controlled for. Seeking effective medical services is highly influential on whether the child survives or succumbs to ARI or diarrhoea. As mothers are the first providers of care, an attempt should be made to try and improve their skills through health education so that they can use simple and effective treatments for minor illnesses. They should also be taught to recognize potentially life-threatening conditions, to seek care early and to persist with treatment.

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Factors Influencing Health of the Santals: A Study of Selected Villages of Birbhum

The International Journal of Community and Social Development ◽

10.1177/2516602619826261 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 58-74

Author(s):

Asok Kumar Sarkar ◽

Sujan Singha

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Methods ◽

Social Economic ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

Low Levels ◽

Occupational Standards

The study discusses the influence of social, economic and cultural factors on health-seeking behaviours of the Santals living in six villages of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India. By employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, data were collected for the study. The analysis shows the link between educational, social, economic and cultural factors and health-seeking behaviour. Lack of economic freedom was found as the predominant indicator in restricting access to better health-care facilities. Poor occupational standards, low levels of income and less investment in maintaining health influence the health-seeking behaviour of Santals in the studied area. The study argues that the existing services are inadequate and often inappropriately implemented. The findings have implications for enhancing the role of education and improving the quality and quantity of services.

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