| Abstrakt: |
Introduction: Childhood illnesses present a major public health challenge for developing countries like India which is aggravated by a suboptimal health seeking behaviour by the parents or guardians. Appropriate medical care seeking could prevent a significant number of child deaths and complications. Objectives: The present study aims to determine the factors affecting health seeking behavior for childhood illnesses, thereby improving child survival. Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out between November 2012 and May 2013. Recruited were patients 2 months to 5 years of age who presented to the outpatient department and emergency of Pediatric Department, Rama Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Hapur. Their health seeking behavior for child's illness and the factors affecting it were analyzed. Results: Out of 222 patients, 29.3 % came to us directly, 70.7% had shown to at least one health care provider before, out of which 30% had shown to more than one health provider before coming to us. The health seeking behavior of the caretakers was influenced by the area of residence, type of family, father's and mother's educational status, family income, birth order and parity, type and severity of illness and availability of health care services in proximity. Conclusion: For the preventable childhood illnesses with existing interventions, appropriate health seeking behaviour is low. Intervention programs focusing on educational improvement of the caretakers, introduction of community based integrated management of childhood illness and diversification of income sources are likely to contribute to improve the health seeking behaviour and child survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
