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Health-care-seeking behaviour for childhood illnesses in a resource-poor setting
Ogunlesi Tinuade1, Runsewe-Abiodun Iyabo, Olanrewaju Durotoye
1Department of Paediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Ogun State, Nigeria. tinuade_ogunlesi@yahoo.co.uk
Insights
Mothers often delay seeking health care for childhood illnesses, with many opting for home-based treatments or drug vendors. Improved health education is crucial for timely and appropriate care-seeking in resource-poor settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Childhood illnesses pose a significant burden in resource-poor settings.
- Understanding health-care-seeking behavior is vital for improving child health outcomes.
- Delayed or inappropriate care-seeking contributes to morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate health-care-seeking behaviors for childhood illnesses among mothers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
- To identify patterns and determinants of care-seeking for common childhood ailments.
- To inform interventions aimed at improving timely access to appropriate healthcare.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a pediatric emergency room.
- Data collected included socio-demographic information and details of prior healthcare utilization for ill children.
- 168 mother-child pairs were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Fever, cough, and stooling were the most common illnesses.
- Care was often delayed beyond 24 hours (61.9%) and initially sought within the home (57.1%).
- Drug vendors and private clinics were frequently utilized over orthodox facilities, with reasons including perceived illness severity and financial constraints.
Conclusions:
- Health-seeking for childhood illnesses is frequently delayed, with a preference for home-based care.
- There is a need for enhanced health education to promote prompt and appropriate healthcare utilization.
- Addressing financial barriers and improving recognition of illness severity are essential.
Aim:
To determine health-care-seeking behaviour for childhood illnesses in a resource-poor setting.
Method:
Cross-sectional survey was conducted in the children emergency room in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Socio-demographic data and details of the place and type of care given to ill children before presentation in the tertiary hospital were obtained.
Results:
A total of 168 mother-child pairs were studied. The leading illnesses were characterised by fever (35.1%), cough (26.2%) and stooling (19.1%). Initial care was sought within homes (57.1%) and after 24 h of onset (61.9%). A significantly higher proportion of the mothers who sought care within 24 h did so within the homes (P < 0.001). Only 38.1% of the mothers felt that the illnesses were severe. Although 66.7% lived close to orthodox health facilities, only 50.6% utilized such orthodox health facilities. Care was mostly sought outside the homes from drug vendors (55.5%) and private clinics (25.0%). Overall, 72.2% of the mothers administered various drugs to their children before presentation. Home care mainly involved the use of drugs (52.1%) and herbal preparations (15.6%). Care was sought within 24 h of onset for children with fever compared with those with cough (P < 0.001) and stooling (P < 0.001). The leading reasons for not utilising orthodox health services at the onset of illnesses included non-recognition of the severe nature of the illness and poor finances.
Conclusion:
Care-seeking for childhood illnesses was often delayed beyond 24 h, and most mothers sought care within homes. Health education is required to improve timely seeking of appropriate health care for childhood illnesses.
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