Dataset Information

Level of Mothers'/Caregivers' Healthcare-Seeking Behavior for Child's Diarrhea, Fever, and Respiratory Tract Infections and Associated Factors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the pooled prevalence of mothers' or caregivers' healthcare-seeking behavior for childhood diarrhea, fever, and respiratory tract infections and associated factors in Ethiopia. Study Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Literature searches were conducted through databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, CINHAL, ScienceDirect, HINARI, and gray literatures) from September 1 to 30, 2021, using key terms in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The characteristics of the original articles were described using text and tables. Heterogeneity among the reported prevalence of studies was checked by using a heterogeneity χ ² test and I² test. Publication bias was examined by performing Egger's correlation and Begg's regression intercept tests at a 5% significant level. A random-effect model was employed to estimate the pooled prevalence of the outcome variable and its determinants in Ethiopia.

Results

Of the total identified studies, 25 studies were included in the review, with a total of 29,993 study participants. The overall pooled prevalence of mothers' or caregivers' health-seeking behavior for childhood diarrhea, fever, and respiratory tract infections was 60.33% (95% CI: 50.14-70.52). The significant factors were residence (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.11-8.39), wealth index (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.92-2.48), perceived severity of illness (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.12-6.51), and knowledge of the illness (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.37-2.75).

Conclusion

This review suggests that the overall pooled prevalence of mothers' or caregivers' HSB for childhood diarrhea, fever, and respiratory tract infections was 60.33%. Residence, wealth index, perceived severity of illness, and knowledge of the illness by mothers were the significant factors. Therefore, providing interventions by considering the above factors will improve the overall seeking behavior.

SUBMITTER: Zenebe GA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9314182 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Seeking healthcare in children is unique since parents decide upon the type and frequency of healthcare services accessed. Mothers/caregivers lower healthcare seeking behavior is one of the major reason for increased morbidity and mortality from childhood illness in developing countries. Hence, this study aimed to assess healthcare seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers towards childhood illnesses in selected health centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS:A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 422 sampled mothers/caregivers of children age 0-59?months, from April 18 to May 11, 2016. Ten health centers were selected using simple random sampling technique and proportionate number of participants were included from each health centers. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with of healthcare seeking behavior. RESULT:In case of illnesses, 26.5% of mothers/caregivers sought healthcare for their children. Among the common childhood illnesses, acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea accounted for 47.6 and 31%, respectively. Mothers/caregivers healthcare seeking behavior towards common childhood illnesses were influenced by child's age (AOR?=?1.78, 95% CI:1.02, 3.13), education of mothers/caregivers (AOR?=?4.24, 95% CI:1.32, 13.63), family size (AOR?=?3.83, 95% CI:1.06, 13.78), perception of severity of illnesses (AOR?=?2.00, 95% CI:1.05, 3.84), previous experience of similar illnesses (AOR?=?3.67, 95% CI:1.36, 9.86) and previous history of under-five child death (AOR?=?13.31, 95% CI:5.13, 34.53). CONCLUSIONS:The common under-five childhood illnesses were acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. The study also revealed that there was a delay in seeking healthcare and this was significantly associated with age of the child; mothers/caregivers level of education; family size; perception of illness severity; previous experience of similar illnesses and under-five child death.

Project description:IntroductionOn-time measles vaccination is essential for preventing measles infection among children as early in life as possible, especially in areas where measles outbreaks occur frequently. Characterizing the timing of routine measles vaccination (MCV1) among children and identifying risk factors for delayed measles vaccination is important for addressing barriers to recommended childhood vaccination and increasing on-time MCV1 coverage. We aim to assess the timing of children's MCV1 vaccination and to investigate the association between demographic and healthcare factors, mothers'/caregivers' ability to identify information on their child's vaccination card, and achieving on-time (vs. delayed) MCV1 vaccination.MethodsWe conducted a population-based, door-to-door survey in Kampala, Uganda, from June-August of 2019. We surveyed mothers/caregivers of children aged one to five years to determine how familiar they were with their child's vaccination card and to determine their child's MCV1 vaccination status and timing. We assessed the proportion of children vaccinated for MCV1 on-time and delayed, and we evaluated the association between mothers'/caregivers' ability to identify key pieces of information (child's birth date, sex, and MCV1 date) on their child's vaccination card and achieving on-time MCV1 vaccination.ResultsOf the 999 mothers/caregivers enrolled, the median age was 27 years (17-50), and median child age was 29 months (12-72). Information on vaccination status was available for 66.0% (n = 659) of children. Of those who had documentation of MCV1 vaccination (n = 475), less than half (46.5%; n = 221) achieved on-time MCV1 vaccination and 53.5% (n = 254) were delayed. We found that only 47.9% (n = 264) of the 551 mothers/caregivers who were asked to identify key pieces of information on their child's vaccination card were able to identify the information, but ability to identify the key pieces of information on the card was not independently associated with achieving on-time MCV1 vaccination.ConclusionMothers'/caregivers' ability to identify key pieces of information on their child's vaccination card was not associated with achieving on-time MCV1 vaccination. Further research can shed light on interventions that may prompt or remind mothers/caregivers of the time and age when their child is due for measles vaccine to increase the chance of the child receiving it at the recommended time.

Project description:BackgroundStunting affects one-quarter of children <5 y of age, yet little is known about the accuracy of caregivers' perceptions regarding their child's linear growth. Most existing quantitative research on this topic has been conducted in high-income countries and has examined perceptions of children's weight rather than height.ObjectivesIn rural Ethiopia where linear growth faltering is highly prevalent, this study aimed to better understand how caregivers perceive their child's growth. The objectives of this analysis were to 1) assess caregivers' perceptions of their child's height; 2) investigate whether there is a discrepancy between a child's actual height and caregivers' perceptions of their child's height; and 3) examine the factors that influence discrepancies in estimating a child's height (secondary outcomes), including the role of the average height in the community (primary outcome).MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 808 woman caregivers of children ages 6-35 mo in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. We assessed caregivers' rankings (from 1 to 10) of their child's height relative to other children their age in their village. We then converted these rankings to z scores based on an age- and region-specific distribution in order to calculate their difference with the child's actual height-for-age z score and to determine the degree of overestimation. Lastly, we used multivariate log Poisson regressions to determine factors associated with overestimating a child's height.ResultsForty-three percent of caregivers scored their child's height as the median; 37% overestimated their child's height relative to other children. Regression results showed caregivers who were poorer, and had children who were female, older, and stunted, were more likely to overestimate.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that caregivers of young children in Oromia systematically overestimated their children's height, which could adversely affect child health if these misperceptions translate to insufficient care-seeking behavior or feeding choices for children.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Timely and appropriate health care seeking for diarrhea of under-five children is important to reduce severe and life-threatening complications. However, different findings indicate that mothers of under-five children often delay in seeking care which in turn contributes to the death of large number of children without ever reaching a health facility. Therefore, a proper pinpointing of determinants of delay in seeking care informs intervention strategies for health service planners. OBJECTIVES:Of this study was to identify the determinants of delay in care seeking for diarrheal disease among mothers/caregivers of under-five children in public health facilities of Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS:Facility based case control study was conducted from March 4 to April 30, 2019. Total sample size was 400. Cases were selected by systematic random sampling technique while controls were mothers of under-five children with signs and symptoms of diarrhea who came to the same health facility within 24 hours following cases. Data was collected by using pretested structured questionnaire by three data collectors and entered into EpiData V4 and exported to SPSS V23 for further analysis. Bivariable logistic regression was done to identify variables candidate for Multivariable LR at p-value<0.25. Multivariable logistic regression was done and p-value <0.05 and 95%CI of AOR was used to declare statistical significance. RESULT:Female sex[AOR = 1.93, (95%CI: 1.11,3.36)], child age <24 months[AOR = 4.47,95%CI:2.51,7.97)], mothers'/caregivers without formal education[AOR = 6.90, (95%CI:3.10,15.37)], and attended primary school [AOR = 3.12,(95%CI:1.44,6.73)], poorest household wealth index category[AOR = 2.81, (95%CI:1.20,6.58) and poor household wealth index category [AOR = 2.61,(95%CI: 1.12, 6.09)], mothers/caregivers who did not visit health facility to first episode diarrhea [AOR = 4.55, (95%CI:2.41,8.59)], mothers/caregivers who were satisfied in the last six month visit [AOR = 0.29, (95%CI:0.15,0.55)], and poor perceived health care professionals respect[AOR = 4.91, (95%CI:2.64,9.15)] were important determinants of delay in seeking care. CONCLUSIONS:Sex and age of the child, educational status of the mother/caregiver, poor wealth index category, not visiting health facility at first response, satisfaction with the care and examination, and respect of health care professionals were important determinants of delay in seeking care among mothers/caregivers of under-five children with diarrhea illness. All concerned body should focus interventions on poor and less educated mothers/caregivers with emphasis on female children and <24 months. Health workers are needed to provide respectful service to promote satisfaction level of clients.

Project description:Despite the availability of clinical guidelines on the correct symptomatic management of fever in children, several studies have reported inaccurate knowledge about this symptom and inappropriate management behaviours among caregivers. There is evidence that caregivers' management of fever is largely influenced by unrealistic and unwarranted concerns about the potential harm that elevated body temperature can cause, a phenomenon commonly referred to as fever phobia. Research on fever phobia has predominantly focused on the role of fever misconceptions in triggering anxiety and impeding a proper fever management, in terms of both concept and operationalization, with little attention to the influence of the relationship between caregivers and the healthcare team. The aim of this pilot study was to explore and describe fever-related knowledge, experience and behaviour among a sample of caregivers, paediatricians and their medical assistants in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. We used a qualitative study design with semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with paediatricians employed in private healthcare facilities, their medical assistants and caregivers with at least one child between the ages of 0 and 3 years. We conducted individual interviews either in person or by phone, according to participants' preferences, between October 2020 and February 2021. We performed an inductive-deductive analysis of the transcripts to identify the most meaningful themes from participants' reports. The analysis of the transcripts yielded three main themes. The first theme refers to participants' awareness of the emotional component in managing the child's fever and the challenges this component presents. The second theme refers to the risk of overtreating when the child's right to be sick is not recognized and respected. The third theme refers to the importance of the relational component, showing how a solid therapeutic alliance with the healthcare team helps caregivers develop self-confidence in managing the child's fever. This study contributes to advance our understanding of fever phobia and to a better conceptualization and operationalization of this phenomenon.ConclusionOur results point out to the importance of going beyond a knowledge gap paradigm and recognizing both the emotional and the relational component of fever phobia, the former being entrenched in latter, that is, the unique relationship caregivers establish with their child's paediatrician and the medical assistant.What is known• Research on fever phobia has predominantly focused on the role of fever misconceptions in triggering anxiety and impeding a proper fever management, in terms of both concept and operationalization, with little attention to the relational component of this phenomenon.What is new• Our results point out to the importance of recognizing the emotional component of fever phobia, beyond its declarative and procedural knowledge dimensions. They also suggest that overtreating is not necessarily and not only the result of a phobia but also of a particular conception of health and the relational component of this phenomenon, which is entrenched in the unique relationship caregivers establish with their child's paediatrician and the medical assistant.

Project description:BackgroundIn spite of the strong role of traditional medicine in childcare in the pluralistic healthcare system in Western Africa, little information is known on mothers' domestic plant knowledge. Identifying local perspectives and treatments of children's illnesses, including folk illnesses, is essential to having a comprehensive understanding of how mothers make healthcare treatment decisions. We aimed to identify which infant illnesses Beninese and Gabonese mothers knew to treat with medicinal plants and for which illnesses they sought biomedical care or traditional healers.MethodsWe conducted 81 questionnaires with mothers in Bénin and Gabon and made 800 botanical specimens of cited medicinal plants. We calculated the number of species cited per illness and the proportion of participants knowledgeable on at least one herbal remedy per illness. Using qualitative data, we described folk illnesses in each country and summarized responses on preferences for each of the three healthcare options.ResultsParticipants from both countries were most knowledgeable on plants to treat respiratory illnesses, malaria, diarrhea, and intestinal ailments. Mothers also frequently mentioned the use of plants to encourage children to walk early, monitor the closure of fontanels, and apply herbal enemas. Major folk illnesses were atita and ka in Bénin and la rate and fesses rouges in Gabon. Traditional healers were reported to have specialized knowledge of cultural bound illnesses. Malaria was frequently cited as an illness for which mothers would directly seek biomedical treatment.ConclusionMothers largely saw the three systems as complementary, seamlessly switching between different healing options until a remedy was found. Folk illnesses were found to give insight into local treatments and may reveal important neglected diseases. Due to high reported levels of knowledge on treating top statistical causes of infant mortality and folk illnesses, mothers' medicinal plant knowledge should be included in the analysis of healthcare-seeking behavior for childcare.