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Help-Seeking Behavior for Children with Acute Respiratory Infection in Ethiopia: Results from 2011 Ethiopia
Tigist Astale1, Michelene Chenault2
1Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Insights
Mothers in rural Ethiopia underutilize healthcare for children with acute respiratory infections. Interventions should target mothers with less education, wealth, and older mothers to improve care-seeking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Acute respiratory infection (ARI) significantly contributes to child morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia.
- Underutilization of healthcare facilities is linked to inadequate help-seeking behaviors among mothers.
- This study examines factors influencing maternal help-seeking for ARI in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors associated with maternal help-seeking behavior for children under five with acute respiratory infection in Ethiopia.
- To identify demographic and socioeconomic determinants of seeking medical care for ARI symptoms.
- To inform targeted interventions for improving child healthcare access and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, including 11,030 children (0-59 months) and their mothers (15-49 years).
- Employed descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses to identify factors related to help-seeking behavior for ARI.
- Analyzed associations between residence, family size, maternal age, prenatal care, wealth, education, and seeking treatment for ARI.
Main Results:
- Only 27.2% of children with ARI symptoms received treatment; 7% of all children surveyed had symptoms.
- Mothers in rural areas had lower help-seeking rates (25.2%) compared to urban areas (46.4%).
- Factors positively associated with seeking help included smaller family size, younger maternal age, and prenatal care. Rural residence increased ARI risk, while urban residence was linked to higher help-seeking. Wealth influenced rural help-seeking, and education influenced urban help-seeking.
Conclusions:
- Children in rural Ethiopia face higher ARI risks, with mothers exhibiting lower help-seeking behaviors.
- Healthcare service underutilization is also observed in urban settings.
- Interventions should focus on mothers with lower education and wealth, and older mothers, potentially by expanding prenatal care access to encourage better facility use.
Background:
Acute respiratory infection is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age in Ethiopia. While facilities have been implemented to address this problem they are underused due to a lack in help-seeking behavior. This study investigates factors related to the help-seeking behavior of mothers for children with acute respiratory infection using data from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey.
Methods:
Data on 11,030 children aged 0-59 months obtained through interviewing women aged 15-49 years throughout Ethiopia was available. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which factors are related to help-seeking behavior for acute respiratory infection.
Results:
In the two weeks prior to the survey, 773(7%) of the children were reported to have symptoms of acute respiratory infection while treatment was sought for only 209 (27.2%). The odds ratio for acute respiratory infection was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.2-2.0) for rural residence with only 25.2% of these mothers seeking help compared to 46.4% for mothers with an urban residence. Smaller family size, younger mothers' age and having had prenatal care had a statistically significant odds ratio greater than 1 for both urban and rural residences. Highest wealth index had a statistically significant odds ratio greater than 1 for rural residence only, whereas primary education or higher had a statistically significant odds ratio greater than 1 for urban residence.
Conclusions:
Children from rural areas are more at risk for acute respiratory infection while their mothers are less likely to seek help. Nevertheless, there is also underuse of available services in urban areas. Interventions should target mothers with less education and wealth and older mothers. Expanding prenatal care among these groups would encourage a better use of available facilities and subsequently better care for their children.
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