Health care seeking behaviour for children with acute childhood illnesses and its relating factors in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from 24 countries

Background Childhood illnesses and mortality rates have declined over the past years in sub-Saharan African countries; however, under-five mortality is still high in the region. This study investigated the magnitude and factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with childhood illnesses in 24 sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted between 2013 and 2018 across the 24 sub-Saharan African countries. Binary logistic regression models were applied to identify the factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with acute childhood illnesses. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Overall, 45% of children under-5 years with acute childhood illnesses utilized health care facilities. The factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with acute illnesses were sex of child, number of living children, education, work status, wealth index, exposure to media and distance to a health facility. Conclusions Over half of mothers did not seek appropriate health care for under-five childhood illnesses. Effective health policy interventions are needed to enhance health care seeking behaviour of mothers for childhood illnesses in sub-Saharan African countries.

Postpartum Health Care Seeking Behaviour among the Rural Women in Bangladesh

Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth is an important event in the life cycle of women and their health during this period is very much vital for the mother and children. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of a country is an important indicator of the overall health status of mother. Objectives: To assess the health care seeking behaviour of postnatal women in rural Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Chaturia in Dhamrai upazilla of Dhaka district from January 2019 to March 2019 among purposively selected 196 rural women of reproductive age who had at least one living child. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using pretested questionnaire. Results: Among 196 respondents average monthly family income was 12561 Taka with SD of 10462 taka. Majority of them were housewives and about two-third (64.8%) were educated above secondary level. 70.9% respondents had their delivery of last child in a government health care center and 37.8% deliveries were conducted by nurses which was followed by government doctors (36.2%). Majority (62.2%) had their health checkup within 42 days, 59.2% of them had checkup for three or more times and the checkup were done by government doctors (60.2%). 47.1% of the respondents experienced high grade fever as postpartum complication. Statistically significant association (p<0.05) were revealed between age group of the respondents with health personnel conducted deliveries and also between educational level of the respondents with place of delivery of last child. Conclusion: Awareness, motivation and infrastructural development play a vital role in utilizing the government healthcare services by the postnatal women in rural Bangladesh. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 80-83

Spike in asthma healthcare presentations in eastern England during June 2021: a retrospective observational study using syndromic surveillance data

Background Thunderstorm asthma is often characterised by a sudden surge in patients presenting with exacerbated symptoms of asthma linked to thunderstorm activity. On 17 June 2021, Public Health England (PHE) observed a large spike in health care seeking behaviour by patients presenting with asthma and difficulty breathing symptoms across parts of England. Objectives To describe the epidemiology of the observed asthma spike and explore available meteorological and environmental data to understand potential causes of this episode. Design A retrospective observational study was conducted of patient visits to health care services in England as monitored through surveillance systems routinely operated by PHE. The number of presentations during the asthma event was compared to expected levels for the overall population and across specific regions. Setting Healthcare services in England. Main outcome measures Number of patients presenting to healthcare services for asthma- and difficulty breathing-type symptoms. Results Spikes in asthma and difficulty breathing were detected across several PHE syndromic surveillance systems. Across affected areas ED attendances for asthma increased by 560% on 17 June compared to the average number of weekday daily attendances during the previous 4 weeks. GP out of hours contacts increased by 422%, NHS 111 calls 193%, NHS 111 online assessments 581% and ambulance call outs 54%. Increases were particularly noted in patient age groups 5-14 and 15-44 years. In non-affected regions, increases were small (<10%) or decreased, except for NHS 111 online assessments where there was an increase of 39%. A review of the meteorological conditions showed several localised, weak or moderate thunderstorms specifically across parts of South East England on the night of June 16. Conclusions An unprecedented episode of asthma was recorded in England, characterised by significant surges in health care seeking behaviour. However, the links to meteorologically defined thunderstorm activity were not as clear as previous episodes, with less evidence of severe thunderstorm activity in those areas affected, prompting further discussion about the causes of these events and implications for public health management of the risk.

Sexual Reproductive Health Challenges and Health-Care-Seeking Behaviour Among Children Who Live on the Streets in Harare

Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions with 26 participants aged between 10 and 17, the paper describes sexual reproductive health problems, health-seeking behaviour, access to and utilisation of sexual reproductive health services among children living on the street in Harare. An intersectionality approach showed how participants’ social location, age and gender created vulnerabilities leading to STIs, maternal complications and sexual violence among others. Additionally, these factors contributed to challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health services among children living on the street. Thus there is need for tailor-made interventions to influence better health outcomes among children living on the street.

Health care seeking behaviuor among the elderly in Hue City

Objectives: the study is to investigate health care seeking behaviour and to identify factors associated those behaviour among elderly living in Hue city, Vietnam. Methods: 400 old persons who suffered from health problem in the past one month were interviewed directly at their house by a structured questionnaire to survey health care seeking behaviour. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to identify factors affecting health care seeking behaviour among participants. Results: 72.5% of respondents sought treatment services for their acute illness in the past one month and 68% of them used prevention services in the past one year before the interview. In general, source of income, educational level and severe level of disease influenced health care seeking behaviour among participants. Conclusions: The findings revealed limitation of the elderly to access health care services, especially health preventive services in Hue city. The identified associated factors can help formulate effective public health programs to improve health status among the elderly in Hue city as well as in the country in general. Keywords: health care seeking behaviour, treatment services, health prevention services, the elderly, Hue city.

Health-care-seeking behaviours of the Japanese lay public during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONOwing to a decrease in visits to health-care facilities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health-care-seeking behaviour of the Japanese lay public has yet to be adequately clarified.AIMTo explore health-care-seeking behaviour of the Japanese lay public during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.METHODSWe conducted a web-based questionnaire survey in September 2020 to enquire about visits to health-care facilities for disease treatment and preventive services (health check-ups or cancer screening tests) during two periods: mid-February to May 2020 and from June to September 2020. Survey respondents were selected from people who voluntarily registered with a Japanese consumer research company, excluding health-care workers. Respondents’ residence and sex were adjusted to represent the Japanese population. Survey results were aggregated after anonymizing respondents’ personal information.RESULTSIn total, 2137 people responded to the survey. The proportion of respondents who avoided new and follow-up visits to health-care facilities were 31.1% and 25.0%, respectively, in the first period and 19.1% and 12.5%, respectively, in the second period. In both periods, dentistry and general medicine were the most avoided health-care sites. Trying to avoid infection was the main motivation for this behaviour. Nearly half of respondents stated that they would not visit health facilities after the COVID-19 infection became controlled.DISCUSSIONDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese lay public indicated that they would avoid new and follow-up visits to health-care facilities. The highlighted changes in health-care-seeking behaviour may be long-term, even after COVID-19 is under control.

Factors influencing mothers’ health care seeking behaviour for their children: evidence from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Background Almost half of the estimated 5.3 million deaths of under-five children in 2018 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa with morbidity contributing substantially to these deaths. Seeking medical care for children has been described as an important measure of reducing mortality occasioned by morbidity. This study examined factors influencing mothers’ health seeking behaviour for their children in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods This study made use of data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The study involved 75,982 children who received or did not receive measles vaccine and 93,142 children who sought or did not seek medical care when affected by fever or cough and diarrhoea. Binary logistic regression was applied in the analysis. Results Most of the children (74%) received measles vaccine while less than one-fifth sought medical care for fever or cough (16%) and diarrhoea (10%). Majority of the children of women who received measles vaccine and sought medical care when they had fever or cough are from richest households. Children of women with primary and secondary or higher education, children of working women and children of women that attended antenatal care during pregnancy are more likely to seek medical care for fever or cough. While children of women who live in urban areas and children of second or higher order of birth are less likely to receive measles vaccine, children aged 24–35 months and those who were of average size at birth are less likely to seek medical care for diarrhoea. Conclusions This study has revealed that mothers’ health care seeking behaviour for their children is influenced by social, maternal and child factors. Any intervention aimed at improving child health in sub-Sharan Africa should take these factors into consideration.