ArticlePloS one2023
Delay in healthcare seeking for young children with severe pneumonia at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda: A mixed methods cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Assessment of childhood pneumonia management and outcomes at primary healthcare centres in Islamabad and Rawalpindi: an observational cohort study from Pakistan.Journal of global health · 2026Observational
- Prevalence of Pneumonia and Its Associated Factors Among Children Under Five Years in Eastern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
- Caregiver awareness of pediatric respiratory red-flag signs and emergency activation intentions: a province-wide cross-sectional study in China.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Feasibility of using continuous positive airway pressureERJ open research · 2025Article
- Determinants and Experiences of Care-Seeking for Childhood Pneumonia in a Rural Indian Setting: A Mixed-Methods Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Characteristics and health insurance profile of brought-in-dead children in a rural tertiary hospital.BMJ paediatrics open · 2024Article
- Impact of digital clinical decision support on quality of care and antibiotic stewardship for children under five in South-Central Somalia.Oxford open digital health · 2024Article
- Influence of Sociodemographic Factors and Household Decision-Making on the Delayed Presentation of Childhood Severe Malaria at a Secondary Facility in North-Central Nigeria.Sage open pediatricsArticle
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGlobally, pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of under-five mortality, and this can be reduced by prompt healthcare seeking. Data on factors associated with delays in seeking care for children with pneumonia in Uganda is scarce.
objectivesThe study aimed to determine the prevalence, factors associated with delay, barriers, and facilitators of prompt healthcare seeking for children under five years of age with severe pneumonia attending Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) Uganda.
methodsA mixed methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 caregivers of children with severe pneumonia at MNRH. Quantitative data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and qualitative data through focus group discussions with caregivers. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of delay in care seeking. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that were independently associated with delay in seeking healthcare. Content thematic analysis was used to analyze for barriers and facilitators of prompt healthcare seeking.
resultsThe prevalence of delay in seeking healthcare was 53.6% (95% CI: 48.6-58.6). Long distance to a hospital (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.22-3.01, p value = 0.003), first seeking care elsewhere (AOR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.85-6.01, p value = 0.001), and monthly income ≤100,000 UGX (28 USD) (AOR = 2.27,95% CI 1.33-3.86, p value = 0.003) were independently associated with delay in seeking healthcare. Limited knowledge of symptoms, delayed referrals, self-medication, and low level of education were barriers to prompt healthcare seeking while recognition of symptoms of severe illness in the child, support from spouses, and availability of money for transport were key facilitators of early healthcare seeking.
conclusionThis study showed that more than half of the caregivers delayed seeking healthcare for their children with pneumonia symptoms. Caregivers who first sought care elsewhere, lived more than 5 km from the hospital, and earned less than 28 USD per month were more likely to delay seeking healthcare for their children with severe pneumonia. Limited knowledge of symptoms of pneumonia, self-medication, and delayed referral hindered prompt care-seeking. Key facilitators of prompt care-seeking were accessibility to health workers, support from spouses, and recognition of symptoms of severe illness in children. There is a need for programs that educate caregivers about pneumonia symptoms, in children less than five years.
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