Magnitude of common childhood illness, healthcare seeking behavior, and associated factors in Efratana Gidim District, East Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020
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Date
2020-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Childhood infectious illness mainly diarrheal diseases, febrile illnesses, and acute
respiratory tract infection remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children
below five years. Delay and inappropriate healthcare-seeking practice of caregivers’ were the
major reason for under-five child death in developing countries including Ethiopia. According to
WHO, a timely healthcare-seeking practice can effectively save the lives of children by 20%,
particularly from ARIs, and significantly minimize its morbidities.
Objective: To assess the magnitude of common childhood illness, healthcare-seeking behavior,
and associated factors in Efratana Gidim District, Ethiopia, 2020.
Methods: A community based crossectional study was conducted from March 15 to April 15,
2020, among urban and rural respondents. Multistage sampling method was employed to a total
of 661 respondents by using semi-structured questioner through face to face interviews. Bivariate
and multivariate logistic regression were carried out to assess association between healthcareseeking
behavior
and
predictive
variables.
Odds
ratio
with
95%
confidence
interval
was
used
to
measure
the strength
of associations
and
statistical
significance
was
considered
at
p-value
<0.05.
Results: the overall two weeks prevalence of childhood illness was 24.1%, (95% CI: 21.1%27.3%)
and 59.1%, (95% CI: 51.1%-66.8%) of caregivers sought treatment at health facility.
Moreover, fever, cough, and diarrhea accounted for 16.9%, 16.8%, and 11% respectively.
Caregivers’ level of education (AOR=2.56:95%CI: 1.09, 5.99) and residence (0.26: 95%CI: 0.09,
0.73) were significant factors for childhood illness and experience of child death (AOR=3.766;
95%CI: 1.726, 8.873), diarrheal symptoms (AOR=3.914; 95%CI: 2.043, 10.828) and access to
transportation (AOR=3.352; 95%CI: 1.049, 10.710) were predictors of HCSB.
Conclusion: the prevalence of common childhood illness was high however; treatment-seeking
behavior of caregivers for childhood illness was low. Caregivers level of education and residence
were significant factors for childhood illness and experience of child death, symptoms of
diarrhea, and access to transportation were predictors of HCSB of caregiver for childhood
illness. Therefore repeated health education on basic prevention of common childhood illnesses
and health promotion strategies to enhance caregivers’ HCSB are critically important. .
Description
Keywords
Childhood illnesses, Healthcare seeking behavior, Ethiopia