Influence Health Seeking Behaviour Research Articles

Maternal Health-Seeking Behavior: The Role of Financing and Organization of Health Services in Ghana

This paper examines how organization and financing of maternal health services influence health-seeking behavior in Bosomtwe district, Ghana. It contributes in furthering the discussions on maternal health-seeking behavior and health outcomes from a health system perspective in sub-Saharan Africa. From a health system standpoint, the paper first presents the resources, organization and financing of maternal health service in Ghana, and later uses case study examples to explain how Ghana's health system has shaped maternal health-seeking behavior of women in the district. The paper employs a qualitative case study technique to build a complex and holistic picture, and report detailed views of the women in their natural setting. A purposeful sampling technique is applied to select 16 women in the district for this study. Through face-to-face interviews and group discussions with the selected women, comprehensive and in-depth information on health- seeking behavior and health outcomes are elicited for the analysis. The study highlights that characteristics embedded in decentralization and provision of free maternal health care influence health-seeking behavior. Particularly, the use of antenatal care has increased after the delivery exemption policy in Ghana. Interestingly, the study also reveals certain social structures, which influence women's attitude towards their decisions and choices of health facilities.

Literacy and Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment among Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution of Lagos Nigeria

Patients' interpretation of symptoms as a sign of cancer could also influence health seeking behaviour. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of literacy on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with the hope that the study may enable a more holistic approach to the management, prevention and control of breast cancer. This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. A total of 190 histologically diagnosed breast cancer patients were recruited based on a breast cancer prevalence of 13.9% in a study conducted at Maiduguri, Nigeria (12), using the statistical formula Z 2 PQ/d 2 . Out of one hundred and ninety patients studied, mean age calculated was 32years. The peak age range was 51- 60yrs (22.1%). There was a statistically significant association between level of education and awareness and practice of the breast cancer screening methods. Clear communication tailored to patient culture and literacy is essential in improving the awareness and positive attitudes towards the benefits of early breast cancer screening so as to have better outcome.

Health seeking behavior for cervical cancer in Ethiopia: a qualitative study

BackgroundAlthough cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality among women in Ethiopia, there is lack of information regarding the perception of the community about the disease.MethodsFocus group discussions were conducted with men, women, and community leaders in the rural settings of Jimma Zone southwest Ethiopia and in the capital city, Addis Ababa. Data were captured using voice recorders, and field notes were transcribed verbatim from the local languages into English language. Key categories and thematic frameworks were identified using the health belief model as a framework, and presented in narratives using the respondents own words as an illustration.ResultsParticipants had very low awareness of cervical cancer. However, once the symptoms were explained, participants had a high perception of the severity of the disease. The etiology of cervical cancer was thought to be due to breaching social taboos or undertaking unacceptable behaviors. As a result, the perceived benefits of modern treatment were very low, and various barriers to seeking any type of treatment were identified, including limited awareness and access to appropriate health services. Women with cervical cancer were excluded from society and received poor emotional support. Moreover, the aforementioned factors all caused delays in seeking any health care. Traditional remedies were the most preferred treatment option for early stage of the disease. However, as most cases presented late, treatment options were ineffective, resulting in an iterative pattern of health seeking behavior and alternated between traditional remedies and modern treatment methods.ConclusionLack of awareness and health seeking behavior for cervical cancer was common due to misconceptions about the cause of the disease. Profound social consequences and exclusion were common. Access to services for diagnosis and treatment were poor for a variety of psycho-social, and health system reasons. Prior to the introduction or scale up of cervical cancer prevention programs, socio-cultural barriers and health service related factors that influence health seeking behavior must be addressed through appropriate community level behavior change communications.

Socio-demographic determinants and prevalence of Tuberculosis knowledge in three slum populations of Uganda

BackgroundKnowledge of tuberculosis has been shown to influence health seeking behaviour; and urban slum dwellers are at a higher risk of acquiring tuberculosis than the general population. The study aim was to assess knowledge of tuberculosis and identify the associated socio-demographic determinants, in order to inform tailored interventions for advocacy, communication and social mobilisation in three urban-slum communities of Uganda.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 1361 adults between April and October 2011. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of potential determinants of tuberculosis (TB) knowledge were estimated by multivariable ordinal logistic regression using Stata 11.2 software.ResultsWe found low knowledge of TB cause (26.7%); symptoms (46.8%), transmission (54.3%), prevention (34%) and free treatment (35%). Knowledge about TB treatment (69.4) and cure (85.1) was relatively high. Independent determinants of poor knowledge of TB in the multivariable analysis included (aOR, 95% CI) lack of formal education (0.56; 0.38 – 0.83, P = 0.004), unemployment (0.67; 0.49 – 0.90, P = 0.010) and never testing for HIV (0.69; 0.51 – 0.92, P < 0.012). Whilst, older age (1.73; 1.30 – 2.29, P < 0.001) and residing in Lira (2.02; 1.50 – 2.72, P < 0.001) were independent determinants of higher knowledge of TB.ConclusionThis study revealed deficiencies in the public health knowledge about TB symptoms, diagnosis and treatment among urban-slum dwellers in Uganda. Tuberculosis control programmes in similar settings should consider innovative strategies for TB education, advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to reach the youth, unemployed and less-educated; as well as those who have never tested for HIV.

Healthcare Seeking and Sexual Behavior Among Patients with Symptomatic Newly Acquired Genital Herpes

Symptoms among patients with first episode herpes simplex virus (HSV) likely influence health seeking and sexual behavior. An improved understanding of this relationship provides insight into the experience of having genital herpes and has implications for counseling. To describe the healthcare seeking and sexual behavior in patients with symptomatic laboratory confirmed first episode HSV infection. Two hundred thirty-six patients (94 men and 142 women) with newly acquired genital herpes were asked to complete a demographic and sexual history questionnaire. To confirm initial HSV diagnosis, swabs of lesions were collected for viral culture and HSV DNA polymerase chain reaction and blood was drawn for confirmation of HSV serostatus using the Western blot. Women reported pain and men reported lesions as the most frequent and bothersome symptom or sign causing each to seek healthcare. Forty-three percent of all participants missed some work or school because of their symptoms; women missed more school or work, sought care sooner, and saw more providers than men. Before diagnosis, most respondents (67%) suspected genital herpes was the etiology of the symptoms. Twenty-seven percent reported having sex after noticing their symptoms, though those who missed more school or work were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse. Men and women have different experiences with first episode HSV, but morbidity is substantial, especially among women. Both men and women may continue to engage in sexual activity after onset of genital herpes, emphasizing the need for providers to counsel their patients to avoid exposing partners to the infection.

Seasonal variations of household costs of illness in Burkina Faso

This paper assesses the seasonal variations of the time and financial costs of illness for rural households in Burkina Faso. It is based on a multiple round survey of 566 households, which included a time allocation study. The economic parameters of households which influence health seeking behavior changed substantially between the dry and rainy seasons: revenues fell in the rainy season and were exceeded by expenditures. Household production was at its peak in the rainy season resulting in significantly higher opportunity costs of time. At the same time illness perception changed: in the rainy season, significantly fewer illness episodes were perceived, and of those, the proportion perceived as severe decreased over-proportionally. Households shifted their healer choice in the rainy season away from high cost treatment, such as the hospital and dispensary, to low cost home treatment. For all these reasons, households incurred significantly fewer costs of illness in the rainy season (27% of dry season costs). Household health care expenditures were reduced to 1 6 of dry season levels, the time costs incurred by healthy household members to tend to the sick was reduced to 1 5 and the time costs of work incapacity due to sickness fell to about 1 2 of dry season levels. The authors stress the need to carry out research in all relevant seasons when studying health seeking behavior and the household costs of illness in order to avoid serious seasonal bias. They suggest policy options to increase health care utilization in the rainy season by reducing the financial and time costs of access to health care. Finally, the authors put forward a hypothesis to be tested by future research: They argue that the cognitive (changes in illness perception) and behavioral changes (different health care seeking) reflect the high opportunity costs of time and the low availability of cash households face during the rainy season. The paper discusses the negative implication that untreated illness has on the health status of household members.