INTEGRATED COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE SICK CHILDREN AGEDBETWEEN 2- 59 MONTHS IN BOLOSO SORE WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: Child mortality is a core indicator for child health and well-being of one country. Appropriate utilization of integrated community case management service has significant contribution in reducing the under-five children mortality; however there was limited utilization of integrated community case management service in common childhood illness especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. There is limited information on magnitude and factors associated to integrated community case management service utilization in the study area. Objectives: To assess the magnitude of integrated community case management service utilization and associated factors among caregivers who have sick children aged 2-59 months in Boloso Sore Woreda, southern Ethiopia. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was used from January 15- February 15, 2018.A total of449 caregivers who had sick children aged 2-59 months with in last two weeks were included and used face to face interview by pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were carried out to assess the association between independent and the outcome variables. Odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval was estimated to measure the strength of the association and statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. Results: The overall magnitude of utilization of integrated community case management service was 25.3%. Caregivers educated secondary and above (AOR=4.15, 95%CI: 1.94-8.90), good knowledge of caregivers about childhood illness (AOR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.08-3.69), caregivers had previous visit of health post (AOR=2.92, 95%CI: 1.01-8.54), short distance to health post (AOR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.02-5.76), symptom of illness was cough (AOR=2.52, 95%CI: 1.13-5.63) and perceived severity of illness was high (AOR=2.51, 95%CI: 1.19-5.27) were significantly associated with utilization of integrated community case management service. Conclusion: the magnitude of utilization of integrated community case management was 25.3% in the study area. Caregiver educated secondary and above, good knowledge on child illness, had previous visit, short distance to health post and high perceived severity and symptoms of illness was cough were strong factors. Therefore, there should be education of caregivers on recognition of danger signs in common childhood illness, gives equal emphasis for all symptoms of illness and implementation of health posts for those travel more than an hour