Changing poor mothers' care-seeking behaviors in response to childhood illness: findings from a cross-sectional study in Granada, Nicaragua

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Research Article

Masamine Jimba¹  Kyo Hanada²  Kayako Sakisaka³ 

[1] Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;Human Development Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tokyo, Japan;Takemi Program in International Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: Health Post;    Public Health Facility;    Monthly Household Income;    Crude Odds Ratio;    Japan International Cooperation Agency;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-698X-10-10

 received in 2009-05-17, accepted in 2010-06-01,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn 2008, approximately 8.8 million children under 5 years of age died worldwide. Most of these deaths occurred in developing countries, but little is known about poor mothers' care-seeking behaviors for their children.We examined poor mothers' care-seeking behaviors in response to childhood illness, and identified factors affecting their choices. We also assessed mothers' perception of the medical services and their confidence in the health care available for their children.MethodsWe carried out a community-based cross-sectional study with structured questionnaires. Participants were 756 mothers and their young children (0-23 months) in Nandaime municipality, Granada province, Nicaragua. We took the children's anthropometric measurements and we assessed the mothers according to their income. We divided them into 3 global absolute poverty categories (income: <1 USD/day, 1-2 USD/day, >2 USD/day), and 4 quintile.ResultsWhen a child showed symptoms of illness, most mothers (>75%) selected public health facilities as their first choice. More than half (>58%) were satisfied with the medical services, but the poorest mothers expressed more dissatisfaction (p = 0.003), when we divided the participants into 4 quintiles groups according to their income. In the poorest group, the main reasons for dissatisfaction were cost (46.6%), and distance to the facilities (25.8%). Almost half (41.3%) of mothers lacked confidence in the health care offered to their child, while most of the wealthiest mothers (75.7%) did have confidence in it (p = 0.001). The poorest mothers showed greater interest in health education than the wealthiest (86.2% vs. 77.8%) (p = 0.015). We found that poor mothers (≤2 USD/day) changed their second choice for care in a positive direction. Factors affecting the change in second choice were the child having symptoms of respiratory disease (AOR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.28-4.90, p = 0.007), visiting health post as the first choice (AOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.26-3.53, p = 0.005), and experiencing a child death in the past (AOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.15-3.68, p = 0.016). Child stunting, mother's level of education, and past participation in health education programs did not affect.ConclusionsDetermination of the severity of a childhood disease is a difficult task for mothers. The national rural health system was functioning, yet the services were often limited. We should consider the feasibility of providing a more effective primary care system for the poor.To encourage mothers' care-seeking behaviors in poor settings, the referral system and the social safety net need to be strengthened. Poor mothers need further education about the danger signs of childhood illness.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Sakisaka et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010