Health seeking behavior of β-thalassemia major children and its attributes: An epidemiological study in Eastern India
Authors
Bijit Biswas
Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
Narendra Naskar
Department of Public Health Administration, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Keya Basu
Department of Pathology, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Aparajita Dasgupta
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Rivu Basu
Department of Community Medicine, R.G.Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Bobby Paul
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Keywords:
Caregiver, children, health seeking behavior, knowledge, thalassemia
Abstract
Health seeking behaviour (HSB) of thalassemic children is one of the rarely explored entity.
Aim:
To explore HSB of β-Thalassemia Major (β-TM) children and its attributes.
Materials and Methods:
It was a cross-sectional design, observational study, conducted among 328 β-TM children and their caregivers attending a tertiary care health facility of Kolkata; West Bengal situated in Eastern India in between May 2016 and April 2017 with a structured schedule. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version.
Results:
At the disease onset, 79.6% of them consulted an allopathic doctor. In multivariable logistic regression model, those who were residing in urban area [adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 3.2 (1.2-8.7)], Hindu by religion[AOR: 3.0 (1.2-7.4)], had educated parents [AOR: 3.2 (1.1-9.2)], no family history of the disease [AOR: 3.6 (1.5-8.5)], belonged to higher socio-economic status (Class II, III and IV) [AOR: 2.9 (1.2-6.8)] and had caregiver with satisfactory knowledge related to the disease (≥4)[AOR: 12.2 (5.1-29.6)] were significantly more likely to seek healthcare from an allopathic doctor at onset of the disease. When we consider their HSB till date, 61.0% continued to consult allopathic doctors only. The multivariable determinants of satisfactory HSB till date were place of residence [AOR: 2.7 (1.4-5.2)], caste [AOR: 3.3 (1.6-6.7)], religion [AOR: 3.4 (1.7-6.9)], family history of the disease [AOR: 2.3 (1.2-4.6)] and caregiver's knowledge related to the disease [AOR: 5.3 (3.1-9.2)].
Conclusions:
HSB of the study participants were significantly associated with their caregiver's knowledge regarding the disease, parents’ educational level, socio-economic status, caste, religion and family history of the disease.
Keywords: Caregiver, children, health seeking behavior, knowledge, thalassemia
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