Health Seeking Behaviour Of Women Research Articles

"We Live Our Life Normal": A Qualitative Analysis of Nigerian Women's Health-Seeking Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study examined where women sought healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and their reasons for doing so. We aim to understand further how women accessed care during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future preparedness and response efforts. This knowledge gained from this study can inform strategies to address existing gaps in access and ensure that women's health needs are adequately considered during emergencies. This study used an interpretive phenomenological-analysis approach to analyze data on women's experiences with healthcare in Nigeria as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 women aged 15 to 49 between August and November 2022 and were supplemented with three focus-group discussions. Following our analysis, three superordinate themes emerged: (i) barriers to seeking timely and appropriate healthcare care, (ii) the influence of diverse health practices and beliefs on health-seeking behavior, and (iii) gendered notions of responsibility and of coping with financial challenges. This paper examined women's decision to seek or not seek care, the type of care they received, and where they went for care. Women felt that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their decision to seek or not seek care.

Cultural Challenges Faced By Women in Accessing Maternal Healthcare Services

Women in Pakistan face numerous cultural challenges in accessing maternal healthcare services. The study aims to see what cultural barriers women face in seeking health care services and decision-making. The objective was to study the challenges, women's autonomy, women's health-seeking behavior, and food taboos, that limit access to women attending healthcare services. Using Exploratory methodology, in-depth interviews were held with 24 such women in Jhang Sayedan Islamabad, in May 2023. Findings suggested that although women do want to receive healthcare services, cultural barriers often make it difficult for such women to access healthcare services and food taboos are sometimes useful, but they sometimes also affect women's health negatively. Other challenges such as lack of knowledge, not having the right to decision-making, limited support, hierarchy, and taboos need to be tackled. Men are crucial in deciding a woman's medical requirements and determining whether they need medical assistance or not.

Health Seeking Behaviour of Women in the Reproductive Age Group regarding Reproductive Tract Infections in Selected Areas of Indore, M. P.

Health Seeking Behaviour of Women in the Reproductive Age Group regarding Reproductive Tract Infections in Selected Areas of Indore, M. P.

Health Seeking Behavior and Post COVID 19 Collision on Reproductive Health among Rural Women in West Bengal: A Micro Level Analysis

Women reproductive health has always been at a stake and due to COVID-19 pandemic vulnerability went even worse. The paper attempts to gain an insight on the health seeking behaviour (HSB) of women suffering from reproductive morbidities in rural West Bengal. It examines the financial implication of ill-health and its formidable consequence in post COVID-19 period. The paper is based on primary data of 200 women in West Bengal aged 15-49 years. Illiteracy and joblessness impart significant negative impact on women HSB. Young married women are less likely to opt treatment. Respondents have positive opinion towards public entities whereas possesses negative perception towards private HCS. North Twenty Four Paraganas is comparatively better performing district compared to Nadia. COVID-19 has imparted higher impact on Nadia district compared to North Twenty Four Parganas. Adoption of UHC approach through intersectoral convergence is necessitated to ensure ‘Health for all’.

REPRODUCTIVE COERCION AND ITS EFFECTS ON WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES- A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective Reproductive coercion is a constellation of behaviors obstructing a woman’s autonomy in reproductive decision-making. This contributes to unwanted reproductive health outcomes in terms of physical and mental morbidity and mortality. The objective was to quantitatively explore its contribution to reproductive health outcomes in women seeking health care for other reasons. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study where the data was collected on the Reproductive Coercion Scale (by Miller) from 424 patients. The independent variables were; worried about pregnancy, pregnancy testing, induced abortion, and unwanted pregnancy/birth and the dependent variable was the scale score of each item. Data was analyzed by Chi-Square/Fisher’s Exact test at Statistical significance of p ? 0.05. Results The mean age of women was 30.13 (SD=6.51) years. Half of the women 212 (50%) were between 20 to 30 years. The majority were housewives 403(95%), living in joint family systems 314 (74.1%), and uneducated 260 (61.3%). There was a significant difference between unwanted/being worried about not pregnant and threats to leave the wife if she did not get pregnant (p=0.03), compelled wife for unprotected sex (p=0.02), and deliberately removed condoms (p=0.02). A significant difference was reported with induced abortions; as the wife was advised against the use of contraceptives (p=0.01), compelled for pregnancy (p=0.03), deliberately barred use of condoms (p=0.03), deliberately removed condom during sex (P=0.05) and damaging condom on purpose (p=0.001). Significant responses were reported for unwanted pregnancy/birth against the items; leaving the wife for not getting pregnant (p=0.001), intentionally barred access to contraceptives (p=0.02), and deliberately damaged condoms (p=0.02). Conclusion Reproductive coercion is overtly denied but covertly reflected in the health-seeking behaviors of women with a significant impact on reproductive health outcomes. Key Words Induced abortion, Reproductive Coercion, Unwanted Pregnancy

Determinants of Health Seeking Culture among Women of Childbearing Age

This study examines the determinants of health-seeking culture among women of reproductive age in the Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria. The determinants identified in this study were belief systems, level of education, cost of healthcare services, and Proximity. The researcher used the descriptive survey design to sample the opinion of representatives and get a detailed description of the health-seeking culture of women of childbearing age using quantitative and qualitative data. Six hundred (600) women of childbearing age were sampled from residents in the Calabar Metropolis. Both quantitative and qualitative data were retrieved using the research questionnaire and in-depth interview schedule. The retrieved quantitative data (586) were subjected to frequency and percentage counts, and simple linear regression at a significance level of 0.05. In contrast, the qualitative data were transcribed to supplement the quantitative responses. In addition, the transcribed qualitative data were analysed by the researcher into themes based on the research objectives. The findings indicate that: there is a significant relationship between belief system and health-seeking culture among women of childbearing age; there is a substantial relationship between the level of education and health-seeking culture of women of childbearing age; the cost of healthcare has a meaningful relationship with the health-seeking culture of women of childbearing age, and there is a significant relationship between Proximity to healthcare facilities and health-seeking culture of women of childbearing age. The study concludes that women's health-seeking behaviour is significantly retrained by beliefs, education levels, cost, and Proximity. Based on this finding, it is recommended that people's opinions be strongly considered and instilled in healthcare practice. Also, reproductive health awareness should be created using various social media platforms to address issues arising from self-medication

Risk factors and health-seeking behaviours in non-communicable diseases among a community sample of women

: The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) had increased tremendously, causing increased morbidity, mortality and disability among population. Cardiovascular diseases remain as a major NCD affecting public health, accounting for 23% and 30% of the total mortality in rural and urban population, respectively, in India. Health-seeking behavior of women is an important factor in tackling NCDs as it can influence the health of the family, through influencing lifestyle and related changes in preventing NCDs.: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 100 women were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using questionnaires to collect demographic information, NCD risk factors, and a rating scale for assessing the health-seeking behaviors.Forty-seven percent of the participants were diabetic, 45 had hypertension and 28 of them were having dyslipidaemia. Forty-six of them had a family history of NCDs, 68 of them performed regular exercises, such as walking, 56 of them followed a mixed diet, and 63 had a preference to sweets, and 40 percent had a habit of dining out on a regular basis. A majority of the participants followed medicines and the prescribed treatment regimen directed by their physician. Only fifty percent of them engaged in leisure time activities during their free time and very few participants practiced methods like yoga, or meditation.: The participants had risk factors contributing to NCDs, and in general, were practicing good health-seeking behaviors. However, targeting on modifiable risk factors, continuously maintaining health determinants to continuous quality of life improvement is essential to curtail the further deterioration and complication of NCDs.

Performance-based financing, health sectors, and health seeking behavior of women attending antenatal care and skilled birth delivery: evidence from Cameroon

Performance-based financing, health sectors, and health seeking behavior of women attending antenatal care and skilled birth delivery: evidence from Cameroon

Home delivery among pregnant women with ANC follow-up in Ethiopia; Evidence from the 2019 Ethiopia mini demographic and health survey.

Maternal mortality has remained an international public health problem although it is decreasing in recent years. Developing countries particularly Sub-Saharan African countries bears the high burden of maternal deaths. There was no study conducted to assess prevalence and associated factors of home delivery among women in Ethiopia on antenatal care (ANC) follow up nationally. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the magnitude and associated factors of home delivery in Ethiopia. To assess the magnitude of home delivery and associated factors among women who had ANC follow up in Ethiopia. Secondary data analysis was carried out using Ethiopian Mini Demography and Health Survey (EMDHS 2019). A total weighted sample of 2,143 women who had ANC follow up during pregnancy was incorporated in the study. In a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p < 0.05 were declared as associated factors of home delivery. The prevalence of home delivery was 31.27% [95% CI: 29.34%, 33.27%] among women who had ANC follow up in Ethiopia. Attended higher education [AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: (0.13, 0.54)], rural resident [AOR = 2.15; 95% CI: (1.19, 3.90)], richest in the wealth index [AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: (0.10, 0.32)], had adequate ANC follow up [AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: (0.13, 0.51)] and being in third trimesters [AOR = 0.64; 95% CI: (0.49, 0.83)] during first ANC visit were significantly associated factors of home delivery. Near to one-third of women in Ethiopia have delivered their babies at home even if they had an ANC follow up. Educational status, place of residence, wealth index, timing of first antenatal check and adequate ANC visit has shown significant association with home delivery. Therefore, focused intervention packages need to be implemented at all levels of the health care system in Ethiopia to improve health seeking behaviors of women who have ANC follow up to have delivery in health care institutions. While doing so, special attention should be given for poor, uneducated and rural dweller women.

An observational study on maternal mortality and maternal near miss in a selected facility of West Bengal.

An observational study was performed at Purba Medinipur District Hospital, West Bengal, from April 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, with an aim to find out the magnitude of maternal mortality and near miss cases and to assess the utilization of available maternal health care services by the deceased women and near miss cases. Result showed 4.5% women developed potentially life-threatening condition (PLTC) of which 21% women developed LTC. Maternal Near Miss (MNM) ratio was 9.46/1000 live birth and the MNM-to-Maternal Mortality ratio was 8.3:1 and the leading causes of MNM and maternal death were hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension/eclampsia. The utilization of maternal health-care services revealed that there is a scope to increase the service delivery. Study finding indicates that health-care programs need to enhance the existing efforts to improve timely health seeking behavior of women.

Evaluation of the Impact of Educational Status and Cultural Beliefs on the Health Seeking Behavior of Women with Obstetric Fistula in South-South and South Eastern Nigeria

Background: Obstetric fistula is a serious health problem affecting women in low and middle-income countries. It continues to exist in Nigeria because the health care system has failed to provide quality, accessible and affordable maternal health care including family planning, skilled care at birth, basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care and inadequate access to treatment of obstetric fistula cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of educational status and cultural beliefs on the health seeking behavior of women with obstetric fistula in South-South and South Eastern Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Non-probability sampling involving purposive and simple random sampling technique was adopted in the selection of one hundred and fifty (150) post-operative patients. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis frequency tables and percentage distribution. Results: The findings were that educational status and cultural belief exert significant influence on the health seeking behavior of women with obstetric fistula. Conclusion: The study indicated that obstetric fistula is a major reproductive health challenge affecting women of childbearing age in Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, educational status and cultural belief of women with obstetric fistula are the major serious challenges to health seeking behaviour of the women with Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). It was therefore recommended that more awareness on obstetric fistula should be created using strategies such as sex education programmed in secondary schools and churches so as to educate them on issues concerning obstetric fistula as well as health talk on VVF for youths.

Barriers and facilitators to genetic testing amongst Black African women in the UK

Abstract Background Black African women have the lowest attendance of genetic testing services and the highest mortality rate of breast and ovarian cancer amongst women from ethnic minority groups in the UK. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to genetic testing to enable these women to make informed choices if found eligible. Methods A qualitative approach was used to explore the perceptions surrounding genetic testing amongst Twenty-four women aged 23-57 Black African women in Luton. Purposive sampling combined with snowballing sampling was used as a recruitment technique. Results The findings revealed that most of the participants had no awareness or knowledge of genetic testing and limited knowledge of their family medical history for eligibility to attend genetic testing services. Facilitators including family member's health, funding by the National Health services and accessibility and awareness and education on genetic testing were identified. Conclusions This study sought to explore the perceptions of Black African women on barriers and facilitators to genetic testing to enable researchers to implement efficient intervention that would increase genetic testing attendance whilst addressing the other barriers and facilitators to alter Black African's women health seeking behaviours. Key messages Identify barriers and facilitators to genetic testing amongst Black African women in the UK. This study highlights the need for further research into health seeking behaviour among Black women that could contribute to the low uptake of genetic testing.

Promoting Fish Consumption Messages: Perspectives of Hmong Women of Childbearing Age.

Objectives: Through focus groups, we aimed to understand ways to promote safe and healthy fish consumption among Hmong women in Minnesota. Methods: English-speaking Hmong women aged 18-40 were eligible to participate in 90-minute focus groups. Through our questions, we sought to gain understanding of the women's health-seeking behaviors and to obtain feedback on current messaging. We recorded the focus groups and transcribed and double-coded the data using sequential directed content analysis. Results: Thirteen Hmong women participated across 3 focus groups. The final coding tree included 6 primary themes related to health messaging, with adequate inter-coder reliability for each. Women identified the Internet as the primary source of health information with website preferences driven in-part by preferences of elders. Discrepancies between health beliefs of elder and younger generations were noted, with some evidence that personal fish consumption preferences outweighed cultural norms. Messages clearly targeting the Hmong population were preferred, with discrepancy in risk-versus benefit-framed messages. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for culturally informed messages that are clear and carefully tailored. Our findings will inform future development of safe and healthy fish consumption messaging to better support the Hmong community in Minnesota.

Health-seeking behaviour among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus pandemic has killed millions of people globally while significantly destroying the social, economic, and political wellbeing of people. The global pandemic has negatively impacted pregnant women's access to prenatal care. The current study sought to understand the health-seeking behaviour of women who were pregnant during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. MethodsThe “Three Delay” model theoretical framework was applied to piece together the pregnant women's health-seeking behaviour during the early stages of the pandemic through focus group discussions. The collected qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsThe delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching healthcare facilities and delays in receiving quality healthcare services at the healthcare facility were a result of the fear of contracting the virus. These delays were occasioned by participants’ personal experiences and uncertainties about COVID-19 pandemic, compulsory quarantines, national cessation of movements, compulsory lockdowns, loss of income to many households and the influence of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). ConclusionThe current study found that fear of COVID-19 was a major factor that hindered access to maternal healthcare services. In this regard, there is a need to upscale awareness creation on the significance of seeking maternal health services during the pandemic to reduce the possibility of obliterating the gains made in reducing poor health-seeking behaviours among pregnant women.

Coping Strategies and Health-Seeking Behavior of Women With Infertility at Zamfara

In Africa, the inability to bear children is a stressful situation that affects the self-worth of women socially and psychologically. As a result, women with infertility in Africa use different strategies to cope, which may influence their health-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the coping strategies and health-seeking behaviors of women with infertility in the Zamfara State of Nigeria. A qualitative approach using an exploratory descriptive design was used to obtain information relevant for the study. Twelve women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected using a purposive sampling technique. A semistructured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth individual interviews after the women consented to participate. Content analysis of the data was conducted. The findings suggest that the major coping strategies adopted by these women were religion, social support, child adoption, and distraction activities. In terms of health-seeking behavior, the women sought help for their infertility from both traditional medicine and orthodox treatment. However, they frequently withdrew from treatment or changed the health facility due to perceived reduction in benefits.

Breast Self-Examination and Health Seeking behavior of Women in Leku Town, Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer and the second most common cancer related death next to lung cancer among women in the world and most of African countries...

Investigating the influence of community health insurance on health seeking behaviors and demand for maternal healthcare services in Nigeria

The rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria remains high despite recent worldwide success in reducing it. Data from the World Bank suggests that maternal mortality rate (MMR) is about 917 per 100,000 for Nigeria and this is only second to India globally. Hence, in this study, we investigate the research question of to what extent can community health insurance influence maternal health in Nigeria by looking at aspects of maternal health such as health seeking behaviors of, and demand for maternal healthcare services among women in Nigeria The data utilized for the study was sourced from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), while estimations were done using Propensity Score Matching and Nearest Neighbor Matching. The result from the estimations shows that the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) reveals that participating in a Community Health Insurance (CHI) scheme improves the health seeking behavior of a woman by about 17% compared to when she does not participate. The result further reveals that those who participated in the scheme were likely to have 58% increased antenatal care visits compared to when they do not participate. This study concludes that CHI is protective of maternal health. It is likely to improve health seeking behavior of women in Nigeria by reducing out‐of‐pocket payment for health services. Further recommendations are also discussed.

Exploring providers' perceived barriers to utilization of antenatal and delivery services in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria: A qualitative study.

To determine providers' perceived barriers to utilization of antenatal and delivery services in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria. A descriptive exploratory study design was used. Qualitative data was collected through the use of a pre-tested interview guide. Twelve providers participated in the study in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. They included nine officers in charge of primary health centers, two Chief Nursing Officers of a tertiary health institution and mission hospital and one Medical Officer-in-charge of a General hospital. QDA Miner Lite v2.0.6 was used in the analysis of the data. Most providers in urban and rural communities attributed good utilization of maternal health services to delivery of quality care. Most providers in urban linked poor utilization to poor health seeking behavior of women. In rural, poor utilization was credited to poor attitude of health workers. Few of participants (urban and rural) pointed out the neglect of primary health centers resulting in poor utilization. Most participants (urban and rural) considered ignorance as the main barrier to using health facilities for antenatal and delivery services. Another constraint identified was cost of services. Most participants attested that good provider attitude and public enlightenment will improve utilization of health facilities for antenatal and delivery care. All participants agreed on the need to involve men in matters related to maternal healthcare. Participants were aware of values of good provider attitude and this is commendable. This combined with the finding of poor attitude of health workers necessitates that health workers should be trained on quality of care. There is need for public enlightenment on need to utilize health facilities for antenatal and delivery services. Community ownership of primary health centers especially in rural communities will enhance utilization of such facilities for maternal healthcare services and should be encouraged. Involvement of men in matters related to maternal healthcare may have a positive influence in improving maternal health in Nigeria.

Determinants of health seeking behaviour of women with obstetric fistula in south- south and south east, Nigeria: A review of the impact of availability and quality of health care services through a cross-sectional study

Background: Obstetric fistula is a condition that results from obstructed labour, which occurs when the baby cannot pass through the mother’s birth canal because it either does not come head first or is too large for her pelvis. Prompt medical intervention, often including Caesarean section, permits a safe delivery for both mother and child. Despite this possibility, yearly, thousands of women across the country receive no such aid and their labour is a futile agony lasting between three and five days, with uterine contractions constantly forcing the baby, usually head first, against the organs of the pelvic and unyielding pelvic bone resulting in Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). The main thrust of this study was to examine how health system factors affect health seeking behaviour of women with obstetric fistula in Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi States, Nigeria. Methods: Qualitative and descriptive research approaches were adopted for the study and a total sample of two hundred and sixteen (216) respondents comprising of one hundred and fifty (150) post fistula repair operative patients and sixty six (66) health workers were purposively selected using simple random techniques. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and tables of frequency. Results: The respondents views showed that availability of treatment centre and quality of health care services influenced health seeking behaviour of women with obstetric fistula in Nigeria. Conclusion: The study indicated that health seeking behaviour of women with obstetric fistula is a major challenge in Nigeria. Establishment and proper equipment of obstetric fistula treatment centres as well as subsidization of the cost of treatment to allow women with this health problem to access health care services are strongly recommended. Therefore, government at all level and non-governmental organizations need to educate the women and create awareness on the causes and dangers of VVF.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Domestic Violence in Northeast India: Evidence From the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4).

Violence against women is now widely recognized as an important public health problem, owing to its health consequences. Domestic violence generally refers to violence against women that generally takes place in the matrimonial home, which includes physical, emotional, sexual as well as economical violence occurring in the adult relationship. Domestic violence has negative impact on the demographic outcome of a country or region, which includes the health and health seeking behavior of women. The present study is an attempt to investigate the socioeconomic factors that would significantly influence domestic violence in the northeastern region of India. The northeastern region of India comprises of eight states, including Manipur and Sikkim, which are reported having the highest and the least prevalence of domestic violence in the whole country according to NFHS-4. Considering these reports and having a different socioeconomic setup as compared to other states in the mainland India, we selected the region for the current study. Data from NFHS-4 conducted during 2015-16 is being employed for the present study. Findings show that education of women, wealth, women's working status, religion, parity of women, and husband's alcohol use are some of the significant covariates that might have influenced domestic violence. The overall prevalence of physical, emotional, sexual, and severe physical violence among women of northeastern India are 24.7%, 11.8%, 6.4%, and 5.3%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis computes the relative risks of categorical variables via the odds ratios. Those women who got higher education and are in upper wealth quintiles have less risk of experiencing domestic violence as compared to women in lower education and lower wealth quintile in northeastern India. There is no rural urban difference in experiencing domestic violence in the region.