Health seeking behaviors of parents/caretakers of children with severe respiratory infections in a selected referral hospital in Rwanda

Abstract

Introduction: Health seeking behavior determines how a community uses health services. Timely and appropriate health seeking behaviors if practiced by caregivers of children with severe respiratory infection can have a significant impact on child survival. Aim: This study aimed to examine the health seeking behaviors of parents/caretakers for their children with respiratory infections in referral hospital in Rwanda to analyze the associated factors. Methods: This study used a cross sectional study design. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire. A sample size of 149 participants was used. Ethical approval was obtained from Institutional Review Board of University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The study was conducted in a selected referral hospital in Rwanda from March 2017 to April 2017. Results: Out of 149 caretakers, 122 (81.9%) were mothers, majority (67.1%) were aged more than 30 years old, 49 (32.9%) of them were illiterate and 53(35.6%) belonged in the Lower class (category 1). Out of 149, 86 (58.6%) children were previously treated and (42.4%) children were brought directly to the OPD. Treatment was taken from pharmacy in 44.3% of all cases. Only (5.3%) reported health center as the first place of call for health care sought by respondents in the treatment of children. Around 43% sought care within 24 h of the onset of illness while eighty-three (56%) sought care after two days of the onset of illness. It was found that 59.7% of all participants were not aware of any danger signs. Factors associated with time lapse in approaching the source from where treatment was taken or first port of call for health care sought by respondents in the treatment of children were caregiver’s age category (p-value=0.021), Care giver's Educational Level (p-value=0.017), caregiver’s occupation (p-value=0.028), wealth quintile (p-value=0.041), children’s age category (pvalue= 0.008), children’s birth order (p-value=0.010), awareness of danger (p-value=0.025) and satisfaction with welcoming (p-value=0.017). Conclusion: There was poor health seeking behaviors of parents/caretakers of children with severe respiratory infection. This was evidenced by delay of time lapse in sought of care from onset of illness and home treatment from entrusted sources of care. Furthermore, parent/caretaker educational level, age, wealth and danger signs awareness was strongly associated with poor health seeking behaviors, and caregiver occupation, the child’s age and vi birth order demonstrated strong association for poor health seeking practices. This directs the education to be focused on specific target groups.