HEALTHCARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN DARO-LEBU DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Health-seeking behavior refers to an order of actions done to promote health and prevent disease. Healthcare use is an immediate outcome of health seeking behavior and is also found to be important to obtain health counseling. Despite an improved physical to health facilities and government expenditure on health, the burden of diseases was not successfully reduced, and health care utilization is low in Ethiopia. As there is paucity of information on this issue in the study area, this study was intended to assess Health Seeking Behavior for Common Childhood illness and associated factors among Mothers/Care givers of under five children in. Objective: To assess the health care seeking behavior for common childhood illness and associated factors among mother’s/care givers of under five children in Daro Labu District West Hararghe, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia from February 01/2021 to March 01, 2021. Methods: A community- based, cross- sectional study design, was employed among 418 randomly selected Mother’s/Care givers from February 01/2021 to March 01, 2021in Daro Labu District, West Hararghe, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia. . Results: The prevalence of health care seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers for common childhood illness in the study area was 88.5 % (95%CI: 84.4% - 92. 6%). Educationally able to read and write, (AOR = 1.4, 95%CI (1.10–3.29), Having male child (AOR = 1.04; 95% CI (1.63-3.68)), Aged of Child < 24 months (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.08–2.68) and Perceived severity of illness (AOR=11.73; 95% CI (3.7-15.2) were significantly associated with maternal/caregiver’s health care seeking behaviors for common childhood illness Conclusion: The health care seeking behaviors of care givers in the study area was high. Educational status, child age, child sex, and perceived severity of illness were significantly associated with Mothers/caregiver’s health care seeking behaviors for common childhood illness. Recommendations: Inter-sectoral collaboration with different offices is to disseminate key messages about the importance of Health care seeking for common childhood illness. Health educations on health care seeking at Antenatal care, Immunization and during home visits by HEWs. Finally further research should be conducted to identify why mothers/caregivers prefer health care seeking for Male Children than Female Children during common childhood illness in Daro Lebu District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Eastern Ethiopia