Care Seeking for Diarrheal Illness
Author Information
Author(s): Wiens Kirsten E., Miller Marissa H., Costello Daniel J., Solomon Ashlynn P., Hilbert Skye M., Shipper Andrea G., Lee Elizabeth C., Azman Andrew S.
Primary Institution: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Hypothesis
This study aimed to estimate the proportion of individuals seeking care for themselves or their children with diarrhea, considering different age groups, case definitions, and study settings.
Conclusion
The study confirms that hospitals and clinics may undercount the number of people with diarrhea, especially those with milder symptoms.
Supporting Evidence
- The proportion of diarrhea cases seeking care at a hospital or clinic was estimated to be 32.8% on average.
- There was substantial heterogeneity in care seeking between studies from low- and middle-income countries.
- The adjusted odds of seeking care at a hospital or clinic were significantly higher for severe diarrhea and cholera compared to general diarrhea.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people go to the doctor when they have diarrhea and found that many might not be counted because they don't go to hospitals.
Methodology
A systematic review of population-based primary research studies published from 2000 to 2024 was conducted, including 166 studies from 62 countries.
Limitations
The study was limited by fewer data on care-seeking from health posts, traditional healers, and community health workers compared to hospitals and clinics.
Statistical Information
P-Value
3.43
Confidence Interval
95% CI 28.1% to 37.9%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website