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Knowledge and Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns of Caregivers on Managing Childhood Febrile Conditions in Singida Region – Tanzania

Received: 10 March 2020     Accepted: 3 June 2020     Published: 9 February 2023
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Abstract

Although the trend of under five mortality revealed to decline worldwide but still a global burden, since the under five children continue to die every day especially those from poor setting. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of childhood febrile conditions are essential for reducing the progression of the illness to severe disease and, therefore, decrease mortality among under five children. This study aimed to assess knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns of caregivers on managing childhood febrile conditions in Singida region. A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Iramba, Itigi and Mkalama District Council from April to May 2019. A sample size of 751 care givers were involved meanwhile 7 destroyed byrain. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to determine the strength of association on factors influencing knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns and controlling the confounders. Among 744 caregivers participated, 57% (425) had high knowledge on managing childhood febrile conditions. Influencing factors were education level (P<0.05) and Marital status (P<0.05). Only 41.5% of caregivers seek health care to the health facility, 38% went to community doctors, 10% went to neighbours, 6.8% went to religious leaders and 3% went to traditional healers. Knowledge and health-seeking behavioural patterns have an influence on self-medication practices among caregivers.

Published in American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12
Page(s) 5-14
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Knowledge, Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns, Caregivers, Under Five, Singida

References
[1] UNICEF. Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women.; 2018.
[2] Nyaledzigbor M, Adatara P, Kuug A, Abotsi D. Mothers’ knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding febrile convulsions and home management : A study in Ho, Ghana. 2016.
[3] Adedire EB, Asekun-olarinmoye PE, Fawole PO, Nguku P. Determinants of Home-Care Practices for Childhood Febrile Illnesses in Rural Communities, Osun State, Nigeria. 2016. doi: 10.9790/0853-15286066.
[4] Bong W, Tan C. Knowledge and Concerns of Parents Regarding Childhood Fever at a Public Health Clinic in Kuching, East Malaysia. 2018; 6 (10): 1928-1933.
[5] Ahmed N, Badawy K, Alhajraf AF, Alsamdan MF. Kuwaiti parent’s knowledge of their children’s fever and their patterns of use of over the counter antipyretics What this study adds : 2017; 10 (10): 848-855.
[6] Ahmed LA, Akinboboye O, Ilesanmi OS, Oguntuase DA. Home management of malaria among caregivers of under-five children in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. 2017.
[7] Abu-Bakar NN, Gharaibeh HF, Al-Zoubi HM, Savage C, Gharaibeh MK. Mothers’ knowledge and practices of managing minor illnesses of children under five years. 2012.
[8] Khan SI, Ani JF, Rani B, et al. Healthcare - Seeking Behavior for Infectious Diseases in a Community in Bangladesh. 2018. doi: 10.4103/IJAMR.IJAMR.
[9] Bigogo G, Audi A, Aura B, Aol G, Breiman RF, Feikin DR. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Health-seeking patterns among participants of population-based morbidity surveillance in rural western Kenya : implications for calculating disease rates. Int J Infect Dis. 2010; 14 (11): e967-e973. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2010.05.016.
[10] Aigbokhaode AQ, Isah EC, Isara AR. Health seeking behaviour among caregivers of under-five children in Edo. 2015; (February): 1-10. doi: 10.12908/SEEJPH-2014-41.
[11] Hamooya BM, Chongwe G, Dambe R, Halwiindi H. Treatment-seeking behaviour for childhood fever among caretakers of Chivuna and Magoye rural communities of Mazabuka District, Zambia : a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2016: 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3460-8.
[12] Mahejabin F, Parveen S, Ibrahim M. Mother’s / Care Giver’s Health Seeking Behaviour During Childhood Illness in an Urban Slum of Dhaka city. 2014; 7: 5-15.
[13] Webair HH, Bin-Gouth AS. Factors affecting health seeking behavior for common childhood illnesses in Yemen. 2013; (October). doi: 10.2147/PPA.S51124.
[14] Gerald M. Assessing Factors Influencing Health Seeking Behavior for Malaria Treatment in Children under Five Years in Rwimi Town Council Kabarole District. 2015; 2 (4). doi: 10.4172/2469-9837.1000151.
[15] Sharkey AB, Hinssen P, Dinant G, Cals JWL. Association between caregivers’ knowledge and care seeking behaviour for children with symptoms of pneumonia in six sub-Saharan African CountriesNo Title. 2017.
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  • APA Style

    Ephraim Kaphilimbi Shilla, Stephen Methew Kibusi, Secilia Kapalata Ng’weshemi, Agatha Fabian Ngowi, Aziza Shaibu Machenje. (2023). Knowledge and Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns of Caregivers on Managing Childhood Febrile Conditions in Singida Region – Tanzania. American Journal of Pediatrics, 9(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12

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    ACS Style

    Ephraim Kaphilimbi Shilla; Stephen Methew Kibusi; Secilia Kapalata Ng’weshemi; Agatha Fabian Ngowi; Aziza Shaibu Machenje. Knowledge and Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns of Caregivers on Managing Childhood Febrile Conditions in Singida Region – Tanzania. Am. J. Pediatr. 2023, 9(1), 5-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12

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    AMA Style

    Ephraim Kaphilimbi Shilla, Stephen Methew Kibusi, Secilia Kapalata Ng’weshemi, Agatha Fabian Ngowi, Aziza Shaibu Machenje. Knowledge and Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns of Caregivers on Managing Childhood Febrile Conditions in Singida Region – Tanzania. Am J Pediatr. 2023;9(1):5-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12,
      author = {Ephraim Kaphilimbi Shilla and Stephen Methew Kibusi and Secilia Kapalata Ng’weshemi and Agatha Fabian Ngowi and Aziza Shaibu Machenje},
      title = {Knowledge and Health Seeking Behavioural Patterns of Caregivers on Managing Childhood Febrile Conditions in Singida Region – Tanzania},
      journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {5-14},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20230901.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20230901.12},
      abstract = {Although the trend of under five mortality revealed to decline worldwide but still a global burden, since the under five children continue to die every day especially those from poor setting. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of childhood febrile conditions are essential for reducing the progression of the illness to severe disease and, therefore, decrease mortality among under five children. This study aimed to assess knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns of caregivers on managing childhood febrile conditions in Singida region. A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Iramba, Itigi and Mkalama District Council from April to May 2019. A sample size of 751 care givers were involved meanwhile 7 destroyed byrain. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to determine the strength of association on factors influencing knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns and controlling the confounders. Among 744 caregivers participated, 57% (425) had high knowledge on managing childhood febrile conditions. Influencing factors were education level (P<0.05) and Marital status (P<0.05). Only 41.5% of caregivers seek health care to the health facility, 38% went to community doctors, 10% went to neighbours, 6.8% went to religious leaders and 3% went to traditional healers. Knowledge and health-seeking behavioural patterns have an influence on self-medication practices among caregivers.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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    AU  - Ephraim Kaphilimbi Shilla
    AU  - Stephen Methew Kibusi
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    JF  - American Journal of Pediatrics
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    AB  - Although the trend of under five mortality revealed to decline worldwide but still a global burden, since the under five children continue to die every day especially those from poor setting. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of childhood febrile conditions are essential for reducing the progression of the illness to severe disease and, therefore, decrease mortality among under five children. This study aimed to assess knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns of caregivers on managing childhood febrile conditions in Singida region. A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Iramba, Itigi and Mkalama District Council from April to May 2019. A sample size of 751 care givers were involved meanwhile 7 destroyed byrain. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to determine the strength of association on factors influencing knowledge and health seeking behavioral patterns and controlling the confounders. Among 744 caregivers participated, 57% (425) had high knowledge on managing childhood febrile conditions. Influencing factors were education level (P<0.05) and Marital status (P<0.05). Only 41.5% of caregivers seek health care to the health facility, 38% went to community doctors, 10% went to neighbours, 6.8% went to religious leaders and 3% went to traditional healers. Knowledge and health-seeking behavioural patterns have an influence on self-medication practices among caregivers.
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Author Information
  • District Nursing, Mkalama District Council, Singida, Tanzania

  • University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania

  • Department of Public Health, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania

  • Department of Public Health, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania

  • Division of Nursing and Midwifery Services, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania

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