Parental behaviors regarding fever in young children in Benin: study of population survey data
Gbènonminvo Enoch Cakpo1,2, Gountante Kombate3, Matè Alonyenyo Labité1
1Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Insights
Seeking healthcare for febrile children under five in Benin is influenced by factors like distance to health centers and wealth. Improving geographic access and health awareness is key for better child healthcare outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pediatric Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Parental care-seeking for childhood febrile episodes is often unsystematic.
- Understanding factors influencing healthcare access for young children with fever is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance knowledge of healthcare-seeking behaviors for children under five experiencing fever in Benin.
- To identify key determinants affecting care access for febrile children in Benin.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2017-2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey.
- Employed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using a generalized linear model.
- Defined care-seeking as any child under five with fever in the two weeks preceding the interview.
Main Results:
- A total of 2465 children were included in the analysis.
- Geographic accessibility (distance to health center), region, maternal age, and socioeconomic status significantly predicted care-seeking.
- Children with mothers perceiving difficult geographic access were 30% less likely to receive care (aOR=0.70).
- Mothers in the Hill region showed higher likelihood of seeking care (AOR=5.73) compared to Alibori.
- Children from very wealthy households had mothers more likely to seek care (aOR=1.93).
Conclusions:
- Interventions focusing on geographic accessibility of primary healthcare are essential.
- Enhancing community awareness and health literacy can improve routine care for febrile children.
- Addressing socioeconomic disparities is vital for equitable healthcare access in Benin.
Introduction:
the search for care of parents in case of the febrile episode of children is not always systematic. This study aims to improve knowledge on health care research in cases of fever in children under five years of age in Benin.
Methods:
this study used data from the Benin Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018. Counselling or seeking care is defined as any child under 5 years of age who has a fever in the two weeks prior to the interview. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using generalized linear model.
Results:
a total of 2465 children were surveyed. The model predicting seeking appropriate advice or care in febrile children in Benin was distance from the nearest health center, region, maternal age, and socioeconomic status. Indeed, febrile children whose mothers perceived difficult geographical access to the health center were 30% less likely to seek care, compared to children whose geographical access to the health center was easy (aOR=0.70 (0.54-0.90)). In addition, mothers living in the Hill region were more likely (AOR=5.73 (3.53-9.45)) to seek appropriate advice or care compared to those living in Alibori. In terms of socioeconomic status, children whose mothers were very wealthy were more likely to have their mothers seek care (aOR=1.93 (1.33-2.81)).
Conclusion:
interventions to improve universal primary health care coverage in terms of geographic accessibility, awareness and health literacy are the best allies for routine care.
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