Care-Seeking Behavior by Survivors of Sexual Assault in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

ABSTRACTObjectives: One of the most striking features of the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the use of sexual violence. In spite of the brutality of these crimes, the experiences of women affected by sexual violence in Eastern DRC remain poorly characterized. This analysis aimed to (1) provide detailed demographics of sexual violence survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital; (2) examine how demographic factors might impact patterns of sexual violence; and (3) describe care-seeking behavior among sexual violence survivors.Methods: The demographics and care-seeking behavior of sexual violence survivors in South Kivu Province were described from a retrospective registry-based study of sexual violence survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital (2004-2008).Results: A total of 4311 records were reviewed. The mean age of survivors was 35 years. Most women (53%) were married, self-identified with the Bashi tribe (65%), and reported agriculture as their livelihood (74%). The mean time delay between sexual assault and seeking care was 10.4 months. Five reasons were identified to help explain the lengthy delays to seeking care: waiting for physical symptoms to develop or worsen before seeking medical attention, lack of means to access medical care, concerns that family would find out about the sexual assault, stigma surrounding sexual violence, and being abducted into sexual slavery for prolonged periods of time.Conclusions: Many sexual assault survivors have very delayed presentations to medical attention. Promoting timely access of medical care may best be facilitated by reducing stigma and by educating women about the benefits of early medical care, even in the absence of injuries or symptoms.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:393-401)

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Home Remedies and Health Care Seeking Behavior among Care Takers of Under-5 Children in Rural Field Practice area of a Medical College: Focus Group Discussion

Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development ◽

10.37506/v11/i2/2020/ijphrd/194852 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 496

Author(s):

Cheluve Gowda G. K. ◽

Savitha Rani B. B. ◽

Krishna Iyengar ◽

Venkatesh P.

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Focus Group ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Health Care Seeking ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Medical College ◽

Field Practice ◽

Care Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Health Care Seeking Behavior

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Perceptions and Care Seeking Behavior of Obstetric Complication in Thailand

Kathmandu University Medical Journal ◽

10.3126/kumj.v10i2.7347 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 63-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

SK Sharma ◽

P Vong-Ek

Keyword(s):

Maternal Health ◽

Health Personnel ◽

Hard Work ◽

Obstetric Complication ◽

Traditional Practices ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Appropriate Care ◽

Care Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Poor Nutrition

Background Importance of maternal health has been recognized over the last decade, however information about the perception of illness and healthcare behavior of obstetric complication is lacking. Objective This study assesses women’s knowledge, perception, and experience of obstetric complication and care-seeking behavior and explores the factors associated with the morbidity and the constraints hindering them from seeking timely care. Methods Twenty one in-depth interviews on the perceptions, experience and care seeking behavior related to pregnancy and delivery of Women at Kanchanaburi Demographic Surveillance site of Thailand were conducted. A structured guideline was first prepared in English and translated into Thai language. An interpreter was hired to interview women at the Thai-Myanmar border to translate Thai into local language. A moderator note-taker, and interpreter were present throughout the interview period and tape recorded the conversation. Results In-depth interview revealed that even though quality maternal health care was accessible to most of the women, obstetric complication was prevalent and they were not seeking appropriate care specifically in highland. Too early and too late marriage, frequent child bearing, poverty, hard work, poor nutrition and traditional practices were the reasons for complications. Poor transportation, lack of health insurance, inadequate training of health personnel, poor health facilities and the perception that the complications are normal for pregnant women were the main reasons for not seeking appropriate care. Conclusions Perceived reasons for complications among women living in Kanchanaburi, Thailand were early marriage, frequent childbearing, hard work, poor nutrition and traditional practices. The constraints hindering them from seeking care for the complications were perceived to be the lack of access to health personnel, health facilities, and proper transportation. These issues seemed to be related to poverty. Kathmandu University Medical Journal | Vol.10 | No. 2 | Issue 38 | Apr – June 2012 | Page 63-70 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v10i2.7347

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Trends of inequalities in care seeking behavior for under-five children with suspected pneumonia in Ethiopia: evidence from Ethiopia demographic and health surveys (2005–2016)

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10232-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gebretsadik Shibre ◽

Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽

Dina Idriss-Wheeler ◽

Sanni Yaya

Keyword(s):

Health Surveys ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Care Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Index Of Inequality ◽

Suspected Pneumonia

Abstract Background Pneumonia is a leading public health problem in under-five children worldwide and particularly in Africa. Unfortunately, progress in reducing pneumonia related mortality has been slow. The number of children with symptoms of pneumonia taken to health facilities for treatment is low in Ethiopia, and disparities among sub-groups regarding health seeking behavior for pneumonia have not been well explored in the region. This study assessed the trends of inequalities in care seeking behavior for children under five years of age with suspected pneumonia in Ethiopia. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the 2005, 2011 and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT), this study investigated the inequalities in health seeking behavior for children with suspected pneumonia. Four measures of inequality were calculated: Difference, Ratio, Slope Index of Inequality and Relative Index of Inequality. Results were disaggregated by wealth, education, residence, and sex with computed 95% Uncertainty Intervals for each point estimate to determine significance. Results The percentage of under-five children with symptoms of pneumonia who were taken to a health facility was significantly lower for children in the poorest families, 15.48% (95% UI; 9.77, 23.64) as compared to children in the richest families, 61.72% (95% UI; 45.06, 76.02) in 2011. Substantial absolute (SII = 35.61; 95% UI: 25.31, 45.92) and relative (RII = 4.04%; 95% UI: 2.25, 5.84) economic inequalities were also observed. Both educational and geographic inequalities were observed; (RII = 2.07; 95% UI: 1.08, 3.06) and (D = 28.26; 95% UI: 7.14, 49.37), respectively. Economic inequality decreased from 2011 to 2016. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female under-five children with pneumonia symptoms taken to health facility, in all the studied years. Conclusions Health care seeking behavior for children with pneumonia was lower among the poorest and non-educated families as well as children in rural regions. Policies and strategies need to target subpopulations lagging behind in seeking care for pneumonia treatment as it impedes achievement of key UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

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