Assessment of Health Seeking Behavior and Associated Factors For General Danger Signs Among Mothers of Under Five Children In Bishoftu Town, East Shoa Zone, Oromiya, Ethiopia, 2016.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2016-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Adequate recognition of danger signs is an important parenting tool in preventingthe child from preventable morbidities and mortalities. Many child deaths are attributed to delaysin seeking care, a timely care seeking practice has a great importance in areas with limited healthaccess. The world health organization estimates that seeking appropriate and on time care by caregivers could reduce child death by 20%.
Objective: The objective of the study was to assess health seeking behavior and associated factorsfor general danger signs among mothers of under-five children in Bishoftu town, East Shoa Zone,Oromiya.
Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from March – April 2016. Atotal of 422 mothers were included in the study. The collected data were entered into computerusing Epi data version 3.5 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression was fitted to assess possible association and the strength of association was measured using odds ratio with 95%CI.
Results: The study revealed that health seeking behavior was exhibited among 200 (49%) ofmothers who took their child to hospital/health facility immediately without any home intervention.Educational level of the mother (OR=5.6, 95% CI: 1.6-20.1), monthly income (OR=9.0, 95% CI:3.8-21.9), previous child illness (OR=6.3, 95% CI: 3.2-12.3) and mothers’ knowledge of generaldanger signs (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-4.5) were found to have statistically significant associationwith health seeking behavior.
Conclusion: This study showed that almost half of the mothers sought appropriate health care fromboth government and private health institutions. Although this number seemed appreciable, giventhe positive phase of change in health sector of the country and the immediate need to seek carefor general danger signs, the number is still not sufficient. Hence, continuous education of motherson recognition of danger signs in children and the need to seek appropriate and immediate medicalcare in health facilities should be implemented.
Key words: General danger signs, Health seeking behavior,Bishoftu town, Mothers of the under-five child
Description
Keywords
General danger signs Health Seeking Behavior Bishoftu town Mothers of the under- five child