scholarly journals The Impact of Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors on Health Seeking Behavior of Urban Households, Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam ◽  
Parvin Begum

Abstract Aim: As households’ health-seeking behavior depends enormously on socio-economic and demographic factors particularly in developing county like Bangladesh, it contributes differently to health-care seeking behavior varying household to household. This study intends to explore the nature of the health seeking behavior of urban residents in Sylhet city through assessing the socio-economic and socio-demographic factors. Subject and Methods: A 150 household survey has been completed in Sylhet city, using a multistage cluster sampling method. A household survey questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and socio-economic factors and their impacts on health-seeking behavior. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis investigate the extent of association between different socio-economic and demographic factors and health-seeking behavior. Results: We found that among the 150 participants, the majority (88%) of household heads are male because gender is significantly associated with priority in choosing health care in the study. The result of binary logistic regression indicates the households who have a minimum level of education (primary or above) are 10.617 more likely to use public health care facilities. Income is statistically associated with the main source of health service. The interference of income in seeking treatment has a relationship with the employment sectors (public or private). Moreover, the reasons for choosing a specific source of health care have a significant relationship with the main source of health care (public or private). Conclusion: This study recommends that government should introduce health insurance policy for city dwellers for reducing the inequalities in health services among city dwellers.

2013 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 077-082
Author(s):  
Rose Ann Dominic ◽  
Shashidhara Y. N. ◽  
Malathi G. Nayak

Abstract Background: The knowledge of health seeking behavior is pivotal for prevention, treatment, management of disease and promotion of health. Proper understanding of those health seeking behaviors could reduce delay to diagnosis, improve treatment compliance and improve health promotion strategies in a variety of contexts. Objectives: to assess the health seeking behavior among rural adults towards private and public health care facilities in case of selected health problems, to find the association between health seeking behavior and selected demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey was done among 260 rural adults by using self administered rating scale questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. Results: Among the 260 samples 28.8% were having positive health seeking behavior towards government health care facilities. Majority of the sample i.e. 71.2% were having negative health seeking behavior towards government health care facilities. There is a significant association between health seeking behavior and demographic variables such as age, education and family income. Conclusion: Majority of the sample prefers to use private health care facilities during the period of their illness. Awareness to be given to the community people regarding availability of public health care facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  

Background: Obstetric fistula is a serious health problem affecting women in low and middle-income countries. It continues to exist in Nigeria because the health care system has failed to provide quality, accessible and affordable maternal health care including family planning, skilled care at birth, basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care and inadequate access to treatment of obstetric fistula cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of educational status and cultural beliefs on the health seeking behavior of women with obstetric fistula in South-South and South Eastern Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Non-probability sampling involving purposive and simple random sampling technique was adopted in the selection of one hundred and fifty (150) post-operative patients. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis frequency tables and percentage distribution. Results: The findings were that educational status and cultural belief exert significant influence on the health seeking behavior of women with obstetric fistula. Conclusion: The study indicated that obstetric fistula is a major reproductive health challenge affecting women of childbearing age in Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, educational status and cultural belief of women with obstetric fistula are the major serious challenges to health seeking behaviour of the women with Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). It was therefore recommended that more awareness on obstetric fistula should be created using strategies such as sex education programmed in secondary schools and churches so as to educate them on issues concerning obstetric fistula as well as health talk on VVF for youths.


Author(s):  
Syeda Jesmin Rahman ◽  
Bishnu Ram Das ◽  
Gunjan Nath

Background: Numerous factors are associated with the access and utilization of health care services. These factors along with the preferences of the farmers are responsible for the health seeking behavior of farming community. This study aims to understand the health seeking behavior of the farmers and the factors influencing their behaviour in a rural block of Assam. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done in a rural block of Jorhat district, Assam among a sample of 400 farmers. A pre designed pretested proforma was used to collect the data. Information was obtained on the demographic variables, health seeking behavior and the factors that may affect health seeking behavior. Results were analyzed using percentage and proportions. Results: The study revealed that respiratory tract infection (54.25%) was the most common cause of morbidity among farmers followed by musculoskeletal problems (23.25%) and gastrointestinal tract ailments (11.75%). Majority of the farmers preferred the government health facilities (62%) than the private practitioners (17%) for seeking treatment. Around 64% respondents sought health care only when their health conditions were severely affected. Financial constraints (43.25%) and lack of time (29.25%) was observed to be major impediment in utilization of health care services. Children were given most priority in seeking treatment at the time of illness (68.75%). Conclusions: Government health care facilities were preferred by most respondents due to low cost of services. Behavior seeking healthcare was mostly influenced by financial constraints. 


Author(s):  
Fatati Larasati

Infant and under-five mortality rate in the world is still a major health problem that must be resolved immediately. Mother’s health seeking behavior very important to manage the health of his children. Purpose of this study was to investigate health seeking behavior among mothers when their children were sick. This study was descriptive quantitative involved 50 respondents. The results show majority mothers choose to take action when their children are sick with most choosing to take them to health care facilities and do their own treatment. Mothers are expected to always care for their children well and not too late for giving treatment when their children are sick.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0009576
Author(s):  
Mikaela R. Koch ◽  
Lansana Kanneh ◽  
Paul H. Wise ◽  
Lianne M. Kurina ◽  
Foday Alhasan ◽  
...  

Background The West African Ebola epidemic of 2013–2016 killed nearly 4,000 Sierra Leoneans and devastated health infrastructure across West Africa. Changes in health seeking behavior (HSB) during the outbreak resulted in dramatic underreporting and substantial declines in hospital presentations to public health facilities, resulting in an estimated tens of thousands of additional maternal, infant, and adult deaths per year. Sierra Leone’s Kenema District, a major Ebola hotspot, is also endemic for Lassa fever (LF), another often-fatal hemorrhagic disease. Here we assess the impact of the West African Ebola epidemic on health seeking behaviors with respect to presentations to the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) Lassa Ward, which serves as the primary health care referral center for suspected Lassa fever cases in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Methodology/Principal findings Presentation frequencies for suspected Lassa fever presenting to KGH or one of its referral centers from 2011–2019 were analyzed to consider the potential impact of the West African Ebola epidemic on presentation patterns. There was a significant decline in suspected LF cases presenting to KGH following the epidemic, and a lower percentage of subjects were admitted to the KGH Lassa Ward following the epidemic. To assess general HSB, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 200 residents from 8 villages in Kenema District. Among 194 completed interviews, 151 (78%) of respondents stated they felt hospitals were safer post-epidemic with no significant differences noted among subjects according to religious background, age, gender, or education. However, 37 (19%) subjects reported decreased attendance at hospitals since the epidemic, which suggests that trust in the healthcare system has not fully rebounded. Cost was identified as a major deterrent to seeking healthcare. Conclusions/Significance Analysis of patient demographic data suggests that fewer individuals sought care for Lassa fever and other febrile illnesses in Kenema District after the West African Ebola epidemic. Re-establishing trust in health care services will require efforts beyond rebuilding infrastructure and require concerted efforts to rebuild the trust of local residents who may be wary of seeking healthcare post epidemic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerili Zaya ◽  
Shijia Li ◽  
Jingyu Pan ◽  
Jinyu Zhang ◽  
Anita Näslindh-Ylispangar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Though relevant education and clinical practice could promote health-seeking behavior, nurses and nursing students may not actively seek healthcare. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using an adaptation of the self-reported Health Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ) including sociocultural background, lifestyle, self-assessment of life, health care utilization, and health counseling. 199 valid samples were acquired by convenient sampling. Univariate analysis, Spearman rank correlation, Pearson correlation, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results Cultural background, living with family, employment, most items in lifestyle, and all items in perceived life status were correlated with health-seeking behavior. A multivariate linear regression verified the influence of alcohol consumption, financial situation, and work situation on the experience of health care utilization, as well as the influence of physical health and interpersonal relationship on the experience of health counseling. Conclusions Less alcohol consumption, better financial situation, and better work situation are positively correlated with health care utilization. Better physical health and sounder interpersonal relationships can improve health counseling. The effect of other factors needs further exploration. Cohort studies could be used to investigate the long-term change in health-seeking behavior.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewa Adhikari ◽  
Dagendra Prasad Rijal

Objectives: To determine the health status and the factors affecting health seeking behavior of the senior citizens aged 60years and above. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study based on household survey was adapted. The sample consisted 400 senior citizens resident of Dharan. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study subject. Individuals were interviewed through selfdeveloped semi-structured pre-tested questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chisquire test) were used. Results: Among 400 respondents, the most frequently reported illness were hypertension(29.3%), diabetes mellitus(8.3%), arthritis/joint pain(24.8%), eye problems(19.0%), hearing problems(3.3%), oral health problems(17.5%), digestive system problems(17.8%), respiratory problems(11.0%), heart disease(3.8%), renal problem(5.3%), skin diseases(7.5%), tuberculosis(3.0%), liver disease(3.0%), mental illness(5.75%),fracture(1.0%), Gynecological problems(7.3%) and male genital (6.3%) problems were also noted. Faith healers were the first treatment choice (97.2%) irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. After that they visited BPKIHS (36.3%), private practitioner (26.3%), self-treatment (11.3%) and self-drug-use (6.8%). Half of the respondents utilized formal health institutions only in major chronic conditions. Poverty emerged as a major determinant of health seeking behavior and treatment was considered waste of money (indirect effect 64%) and lack of money (35 .5%) followed by poor attitude of health worker (41%) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10055   Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 50-57


2012 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jishnu Das ◽  
Jeffrey Hammer ◽  
Carolina Sánchez-Paramo

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