ArticleBMC public health2025
Health seeking behaviour of caregivers of children under five and its determinants in Ho West and Adaklu districts, Volta Region, Ghana: a community-based cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Barriers and facilitators of parental healthcare-seeking for sick young infants with possible serious bacterial infection in Ethiopia: a qualitative study using a socio ecological model.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Gender-based discrimination towards cisgender women in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of definitions and measures used in the health literature.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Exploring the Coping Resources of Caregivers with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Southern Ghana.Sage open pediatricsArticle
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3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite gains made in child survival, morbidity and mortality remain high in sub-Saharan Africa. Seeking healthcare at health facilities for sick children under-five within 24 h of onset of symptoms is key to mitigating severe morbidity and mortality. However, literature on this outcome is limited and poses challenges for monitoring caregivers' adherence to prompt health seeking behaviour. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of prompt caregiver health seeking behaviour (HSB) for sick under-fives in two districts in the Volta Region of Ghana.
methodsThe study was conducted among 770 caregivers/children in the Ho West and Adaklu districts of the Volta Region. Data on caregiver and child characteristics and knowledge of childhood illness symptoms/ signs among others were obtained. Summary statistics were presented as frequencies and percentages. Logistic regression was used to assess for association between prompt HSB and independent variables including caregiver and child socio-demographics. Odds ratios were presented with 95% confidence intervals at a statistical significance of p < 0.05 in the final model.
resultsAlmost 93% (714/770) of the caregivers were females while about three-quarters (559/767) were aged 20-39 years. The mean age of the study children was 24.1 months. Of caregivers who sought formal health care the last time their children fell ill, only about 59% (337/573) did so within 24 h of symptoms onset. Less than 10% (52/770) of caregivers had adequate knowledge of childhood danger signs while about 64% (492/770) had decision-making capacity regarding sending a sick child to a health facility. Male children had twice the odds of caregivers' prompt HSB compared to females [AOR 2.02 95% CI: 1.24, 3.27; p = 0.004]. Fourth-born or higher birth order children had 56% reduced odds of prompt HSB [AOR 0.44 95% CI: 0.26, 0.75; p = 0.003].
conclusionAbout 60% of those who sought formal care for their sick children did so promptly and this was influenced by the sex and birth order of the child. Public health managers in the study area must promote interventions to improve prompt caregiver HSB, especially for children of higher birth orders. Community education is needed to minimize 'discrimination' against the girl child as far as prompt HSB is concerned.
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