Care Seeking Behavior for Childhood Illness in Western Nepal
Author Information
Author(s): Sreeramareddy Chandrashekhar T, Shankar Ravi P, Sreekumaran Binu V, Subba Sonu H, Joshi Hari S, Ramachandran Uma
Primary Institution: Manipal College of Medical Sciences
Hypothesis
What factors influence mothers' care seeking behavior during childhood illness?
Conclusion
Mothers are more likely to seek care when they perceive the illness as serious, but many lack awareness of danger signs.
Supporting Evidence
- Pharmacies were the most common source of care sought by mothers.
- Mothers' education and perceived severity of illness were significant predictors of care seeking behavior.
- Only 26.4% of mothers sought appropriate care from qualified medical practitioners.
Takeaway
Moms in Nepal often go to pharmacies instead of doctors when their kids are sick, and they need to learn more about when to seek help.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with mothers of children who had been ill in the past 15 days, using a semi-structured questionnaire.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include reliance on mothers' perceptions and the diversity of care providers categorized as appropriate or inappropriate.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall and reporting bias.
Participant Demographics
Mothers interviewed had a mean age of 23.7 years, with varying levels of education and family income.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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