Determinants of Modern Paediatric Healthcare Seeking in Rural Côte d'Ivoire

Area of Science:

• Child Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Under-five mortality remains a significant public health challenge in many low-income countries.
• Understanding healthcare-seeking behaviors is vital for effective child survival interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with healthcare seeking for childhood illnesses in Côte d'Ivoire.
• To explore determinants of modern healthcare use for both fatal and non-fatal child health problems.

Main Methods:

• A social autopsy questionnaire was administered to caregivers of children under five.
• Data included 736 non-fatal and 82 fatal cases.
• Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models were used to identify determinants of healthcare seeking.

Main Results:

• Modern healthcare was sought in 63.9% of non-fatal and 76.8% of fatal cases.
• Factors associated with seeking care for non-fatal cases included younger child age, parental caregiver, higher education, proximity to facilities, and specific clinical signs.
• For fatal cases, only lower respiratory disease signs were associated with seeking care; lack of danger sign awareness was noted in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Prompt recognition of danger signs and improved healthcare seeking are essential for reducing under-five mortality in rural Côte d'Ivoire.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing caregiver awareness of danger signs and facilitating access to care.