Healthcare-seeking Practices for Common Childhood Illnesses in Northeastern Albania: A Community-based Household Survey
Ditila Doracaj
Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania
Edi Grabocka
Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania
Elda Hallkaj
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania
Gentian Vyshka *
Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Appropriate medical care-seeking could prevent a significant number of child deaths and complications due to ill health.
Objectives: The purpose of our study was to assess care-seeking behaviour of mothers during childhood illnesses and its influencing factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in June-July 2012. 600 mothers of children 0-23 months old were selected randomly using a two-stage 30-cluster sampling technique in the three districts of the Diber region. Data collected generated information on 2-week child morbidity and care-seeking practices for acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diarrhoea. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to show frequency distributions and associations.
Results: The prevalence of ARI and diarrhoea were 11.2% and 11.5 %, respectively. Eighty-seven (64%) children were taken to a health facility for advice or treatment. For most of the children (59.6%) care-seeking started on the second and subsequent days of perceived onset of illness. Paediatricians at public hospitals were the most frequently consulted providers, visited by 58 (66.7%) mothers. Mothers’ urban residence (OR=6.09, 95% CI: 1.14-41.72), having a male child (OR=6.02, 95% CI: 1.77-20.4), third and above wealth index (OR=6.02, 95% CI: 1.77-20.4), and knowledge of four or more child danger signs (OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.04-7.22) increased the odds of ‘prompt’ care seeking.
Conclusions: The prevalence of appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviour in Diber is not adequate. Reinforcement of community based Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses program may improve mothers’ ability to recognize danger signs of childhood illness and care-seeking behaviour.
Keywords: Albania, care-seeking behaviour, childhood illness