Acute Childhood Illnesses and Health Seeking Behaviour among under five children in a village of Hooghly district, West Bengal

Background: Discrimination and gender gaps have been observed even in early years of life. Although overall sex ratio in India has improved from 933 to 940 in the last decade, it declined from 927 to 914 in children aged less than five. Girls, less than five years, show steadily high mortality/morbidity compared to boys. This study was conducted to find the gender inequality in health seeking behaviour (HSB) among mothers of under five children. Methods: This community based cross sectional study was conducted in rural area of Lucknow, between September 2014 to August 2015. A total of 221 households having 376 under-five children were selected by multistage sampling technique from rural area of Lucknow. Mothers were interviewed about health seeking behavior for their ill child. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS v21. Results: About 95% of the male child and 86.4% of the female child sought treatment. Of the total females that were treated, 67.3% were taken to a health facility/provider while the rest got treated at-home against 76.4% males that got treatment outside home. Conclusions: Gender discrimination do exist in the rural area at each step of seeking health-care for girl child. Adequate measures should be taken to improve their health status and consequently sex ratio as early as possible.

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High common childhood illnesses while treatment seeking behavior of mothers’/care givers’ was low at rural northwest Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.2.17005/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zemene Tigabu Kebede ◽

Kassahun Alemu Gelaye ◽

Mehari Woldemariam Merid ◽

Temesgen Yihunie Akalu ◽

Ashenafi Tazebew Amare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Center ◽

Childhood Illness ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Care Givers ◽

Seeking Behavior

Abstract Background: In most developing countries, childhood illness and deaths are among the most challenging health issues. Most of these deaths were due to preventable causes including acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, and febrile illnesses. Thus, identification of determinants of childhood illness would help to guide strategic planning and prioritize interventions.Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select households and mothers/caregivers. A total of 2,158 mothers with at least one under-five child were included. Mothers were interviewed at their homes using structured questionnaire. Adjusted Odds Ratio with a 95% Confidence Interval and P-value <0.05 in the multivariable model were reported to show the significance and direction of association.Result: The overall prevalence of childhood illnesses was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.0, 18.2). Of all, 6.5% (95% CI: 5.5, 6.72), 7.5% (95% CI: 6.5, 8.76), and 12.0% (95% CI: 10.66, 13.40) had diarrhea, ARI, and fever, respectively. The treatment-seeking behavior of mothers/care-givers for any of the childhood illness was 22.7% (18.72, 27.42). The odds of childhood illness was higher among mothers’ age 15-19 years (AOR=2.87-; 95% CI: 1.33, 6.13), employed mothers’ (AOR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.84, 4.39), living far away from nearest health center (AOR=1.02; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.03), two under-five children (AOR=1.33;95%CI: 1.029,1.74) and three or more children in the house (AOR=2.70; 95%CI: 1.12, 6.53). About 22.8% (95% CI: 18.7, 27.4) of mothers/caregivers sought health care. Mothers’ occupation (AOR= 4.08 (95% CI: 1.35, 12.39) was the only independent predictor of treatment-seeking behavior.Conclusion: In this study, common childhood illnesses remain high while the treatment-seeking behavior of the mothers’/caregivers’ was low. Mothers’ age, occupation, distance from the nearest health center, and two or more children in the house were independent factors of childhood illness. Being a skilled/semi-skilled mothers was significantly associated with health-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers. Thus, involving women in skilled/semi-skilled occupations would help in decreasing childhood illness and enhance health-seeking behaviors for their under-five children. Besides, providing access to health care facilities in their nearby area would be essential in reducing childhood illness.

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High common childhood illnesses while treatment seeking behavior of mothers’/care givers’ was low at rural northwest Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.2.17005/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zemene Tigabu Kebede ◽

Kassahun Alemu Gelaye ◽

Mehari Woldemariam Merid ◽

Temesgen Yihunie Akalu ◽

Ashenafi Tazebew Amare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Center ◽

Childhood Illness ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Care Givers ◽

Seeking Behavior

Abstract Background: In most developing countries, childhood illness and deaths are among the most challenging health issues. Most of these deaths were due to preventable causes including acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, and febrile illnesses. Thus, the identification of determinants of this childhood illness would help to guide strategic planning and prioritize interventions.Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select households and mothers/caregivers. A total of 2,158 mothers with at least one under-five child were included. Mothers were interviewed at their homes using structured questionnaire. Adjusted Odds Ratio with a 95% Confidence Interval for variables with P-value <0.05 in the multivariable model were reported to show the significance and the direction of association.Result: The overall prevalence of childhood illnesses was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.0, 18.2). Of all, 6.5% (95% CI: 5.5, 6.72), 7.5% (95% CI: 6.5, 8.76), and 12.0% (95% CI: 10.66, 13.40) had diarrhea, ARI, and fever, respectively. The treatment-seeking behavior of mothers/care-givers for any of the childhood illness was 22.7% (18.72, 27.42). The odds of childhood illness was higher among mothers’ age 15-19 years (AOR=2.87-; 95% CI: 1.33, 6.13), employed mothers’ (AOR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.84, 4.39), living far away from nearest health center (AOR=1.02; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.03), two under-five children (AOR=1.33;95%CI: 1.029,1.74) and three or more children in the house (AOR=2.70; 95%CI: 1.12, 6.53). About 22.8% (95% CI: 18.7, 27.4) of mothers/caregivers sought health care. Mothers’ occupation (AOR= 4.08 (95% CI: 1.35, 12.39) was the only independent predictor of treatment-seeking behavior.Conclusion: In this study, common childhood illnesses remain high while the treatment-seeking behavior of the mothers’/caregivers’ was low. Mothers’ age, occupation, distance from the nearest health center, and two or more children in the house were independent factors of childhood illness. Being a skilled/semi-skilled mothers was significantly associated with health-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers. Thus, involving women in skilled/semi-skilled occupations would help in decreasing childhood illness and enhance health-seeking behaviors for their under-five children. Besides, providing access to health care facilities in their nearby area would be essential in reducing childhood illness.

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Pattern of Morbidities in Under Five Children and Health Seeking Behaviour of their Parents

Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh ◽

10.3329/jafmc.v11i1.30674 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 59-63

Author(s):

Rownok Azad Anne ◽

Neelima Akhter ◽

Nahid Reaz Shapla ◽

Eva Jesmin ◽

Nazma Begum

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Later Life ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Health Seeking Behaviour ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Related Factors ◽

Health Care Centre ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children

Introduction: All children, no matter where they born, deserve a healthy start in life. But harsh reality is that, in year 2012, 6.6 million children died in Bangladesh before their fifth birthday. The children constitute a large proportion of the total population of Bangladesh. They are 15 million, the vulnerable or special risk group; deserve exceptional health care as the child mortality and morbidity risks are much higher than their later life. Child morbidity is determined by several complex and inter-related factors in Bangladesh, specially in rural area.Objectives: The objective of this study was to find out the pattern of morbidity of under five children, health seeking behaviour of their parents and the socio-demographic factors affecting those under five children's morbidity.Materials and Methods: This descriptive type of cross sectional study was carried out at Madhupur Thana under a rural area of Tangail District during January 2012 to June 2012 to find out the pattern of morbidities of under five children and health seeking behaviour of their parents. Total 170 mothers were selected purposively to carry out this study.Results: Among the cases of morbidities, 611(100%) sufferings of under five children were recorded from 170 respondents. The highest frequency (133, 21.76%) of sufferings of under five children were from cold, almost the similar number (132, 21.6%) of sufferings were from fever and 116(16.69%) sufferings were from diarrhoea. In this study, health care seeking behaviour for their children were found towards blessings from religious person (Jarphuk/Tabiz-11.77%), spiritual healer (Kobiraj-8.82%), herbal(7.06%), village doctor(20%) drug seller (17.06%), homeopath (12.94%), paramedic (4.71%), MBBS doctors (9.41%) and 8.23% did not take any treatment. Monthly income level of 51.8% respondents were from Taka 5000/- to Taka 10,000/-. On the other hand, only 07 respondents had highest level income of Taka 20,000/- to Taka 30,000/-. The mean income of the mother of under five children was Tk 10,064/- (SD= ± 5709.06). This study revealed that 14 respondents out of 170 did not take any treatment for their under five children. Out of these 14 respondents, 02(14.28%) even did not know the existence of treatment for the morbidity of their under five children. Again, 05(35.71%) respondents had the belief that their children would get cured without any medicine, 04 (28.57%) respondents had no health care centre nearby and 03(21.42%) respondents were unable to bear the treatment cost.Conclusion: Education and awareness of the parents about child health care are important components to reconsider for developing new strategy for improving existing situation of health seeking behaviour of parents for their under-5 children.Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.11(1) 2015: 59-63

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High common childhood illnesses while treatment seeking behavior of mothers’/care givers’ was low at rural northwest Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.2.17005/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Zemene Tigabu Kebede ◽

Kassahun Alemu Gelaye ◽

Mehari Woldemariam Merid ◽

Temesgen Yihunie Akalu ◽

Ashenafi Tazebew Amare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Center ◽

Childhood Illness ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Multivariable Model ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Care Givers ◽

Seeking Behavior

Abstract Background: In most developing countries, childhood illness and deaths are among the most challenging health issues. Most of these deaths were due to preventable causes including acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, and febrile illnesses. Thus, identification of determinants of these childhood disease illness would help to guide strategic planning, and prioritize interventions. Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Two stage cluster sampling technique was used to select kebeles and then households. A total of 2,158 mothers/care givers with at least one under-five child were included. Mothers/care-givers were interviewed at their homes using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for variables with P-value <0.05 in the multivariable model were reported to show significance and direction of association<0.05 in the multivariable model were reported to show significance and direction of association. Result: The overall prevalence of childhood illnesses was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.0, 18.2). The treatment seeking behavior of the mothers/caregivers was 22.8% (95% CI: 18.7, 27.4). Of the illnesses, 6.5% (95% CI: 5.5, 6.72) were diarrhea, 7.5% (95% CI: 6.5, 8.76) were ARI, and 12.0% (95% CI: 10.66, 13.40) were fever. Mothers’ age 40 years and above (AOR=0.35; 95%CI: 0.16, 0.76), mothers’ occupation (AOR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.84, 4.39), distance from nearest health center (AOR=1.02; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.03), and presence of three or more under-five children in the house (AOR=2.59; 95%CI: 1.03, 5.76) were predictors of childhood illness. Conclusion: In this study, the common childhood illness remains high while treatment seeking behavior of the mothers’/care givers’ was so low. Mothers’ age and occupation, distance from nearest health center, and presence of three or more under-five children in the house were independent determinants of childhood illness. Thus, addressing significant determinants and enhancing mothers’/care givers health seeking behavior would help in reducing morbidity and mortality of under-five children with common childhood illness. Key word: Childhood illness, determinants, rural, health seeking behavior, Ethiopia

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High common childhood illnesses while the treatment-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers’ was low in rural northwest Ethiopia in 2018. A community-based cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.17005/v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zemene Tigabu Kebede ◽

Kassahun Alemu Gelaye ◽

Mehari Woldemariam Merid ◽

Temesgen Yihunie Akalu ◽

Ashenafi Tazebew Amare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Childhood Illness ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Seeking Behavior

Abstract Background: In most developing countries, childhood illness, and deaths are among the most challenging health issues. Most of these deaths were due to preventable causes including acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, and febrile illnesses. Thus, the identification of determinants of this childhood illness would help to guide strategic planning and prioritize interventions.Method: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select households and mothers/caregivers. A total of 2,158 mothers/caregivers with at least one under-five child were included. Mothers/caregivers were interviewed at their homes using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for variables with P-value <0.05 in the multivariable model were reported to show the significance and the direction of the association. Result: The overall prevalence of childhood illnesses was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.0, 18.2). Of all, 6.5% (95% CI: 5.5, 6.72), 7.5% (95% CI: 6.5, 8.76), and 12.0% (95% CI: 10.66, 13.40) had diarrhea, ARI, and fever, respectively. The treatment-seeking behavior of mothers/care-givers for any of the childhood illnesses was 22.7% (18.72, 27.42). The odds of childhood illness was higher among mothers’ age 15-19 years (AOR=2.87-; 95%CI: 1.33, 6.13), employed mothers’ (AOR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.84, 4.39), living far away from the nearest health center (AOR=1.02; 95%CI: 1.005, 1.027), presence of two under-five children (AOR=1.33;955CI: 1.029,1.74) and three or more under-five children in the house (AOR=2.70; 95%CI: 1.12, 6.53) than a single child. About 23% (95% CI: 18.7, 27.4) of mothers/caregivers sought health care for the sick child. Mothers’ occupation (AOR= 4.08 (95% CI: 1.35, 12.39) was the only independent predictor of treatment-seeking behavior.Conclusion: The common childhood illness remains high while the treatment-seeking behavior of the caregivers’ was low. Mothers’ age, occupation, distance from the health center, and the presence of two or more under-five children in the house were independent factors of childhood illness. Being skilled mothers was significantly associated with good health-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers. Thus, involving women in skilled/semi-skilled occupations would help in decreasing childhood illness and enhance health-seeking behaviors for their under-five children.

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Determinants of Delay in Healthcare Seeking for Common Childhood Illnesses among Caregivers with Under-Five Children in Touboro Health District, Near Cameroon’ s Northeastern Border with Chad

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2021/v42i530453 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

H. Ngouakam ◽

E. Nekehforba ◽

B. Tientche

Keyword(s):

Health District ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Children Under Five ◽

Healthcare Seeking ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Female Children ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Healthcare Seeking Behavior

Aims: The study sought to determine the determinants of delay in health-seeking among caregivers with under-five children. Study Design: This was a mixed-method, cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in Touboro Health District involving 386 caregivers of under-five children from May to July 30, 2020. Methodology: A structured questionnaire and two focused group discussions were used to gather information on caregiver knowledge of healthcare-seeking behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Bivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with of healthcare seeking behavior. Results: Results of the 386 sick children, fever 39.9% (154/386), diarrhea 30.3% (117/386) and cough 24.9% (96/386) were the common symptoms. The majority of the caregivers of the under-five children had poor knowledge of 63% (243/386) about common infant illnesses. Caregivers of female children under-five(OR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.29-3.96, P = 0.004), caregivers aged between 21 and 30 years (OR=5.53, 95% CI: 1.32-23.11, P = 0.019), caregivers whose occupation is housewife (OR=2.64 95% CI 1.23-5.68, P =10.013),) ,caregivers who host > 6children in a household (OR= 3.56 95% CI 1.42-8.92 , P =0.007) were key determinants of delay in health-seeking. Conclusion: Caregivers of female children under-five, caregivers aged between 21 and 30 years, caregivers whose occupation is housewife, caregivers under-five children residing in a rural area, caregivers who host more than 6 children in a household, households with an average monthly income of <10.000 FRS Cfa were predictors of delay appropriate health-seeking. There is a need to intensify health education focusing on childhood illnesses, and timely care-seeking to effectively respond to caregiver's expectations among others.

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