Department of Paediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.
J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Dec;56(6):379-85. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmq009. Epub 2010 Feb 18.
The objective of the study was to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors on healthcare-seeking behaviors for childhood illnesses. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among consecutively admitted acutely ill children in the Children Emergency Room of a Nigerian tertiary care hospital. A total of 168 respondents were surveyed out of which only 12 (7.1%) performed well with regard to all the four indicators of appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviors. Bivariate analysis showed significant association between high maternal education and early care-seeking, utilization of orthodox health facilities, and drug use at home (p < 0.001 in each case). Similarly, age of child <1 year was associated with early care-seeking, care-seeking outside home, and utilization of orthodox health services (p < 0.001 in each case). Logistic regression showed that high maternal education and high family socioeconomic status were strong predictors of early care-seeking and care-seeking outside the home. It is concluded that maternal age, maternal education, and family socioeconomic status are predictors of appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviors for childhood illnesses.
本研究旨在探讨社会人口因素对儿童疾病求医行为的影响。这是一项在尼日利亚一家三级保健医院儿童急诊室连续收治的急性病儿童中进行的横断面调查。共调查了 168 名受访者，其中只有 12 名（7.1%）在四个适当求医行为的指标上表现良好。单变量分析显示，母亲文化程度高与早期求医、利用正统医疗设施和在家中用药显著相关（每种情况均 p < 0.001）。同样，年龄 <1 岁的儿童与早期求医、到外地求医和利用正统医疗服务显著相关（每种情况均 p < 0.001）。Logistic 回归显示，母亲文化程度高和家庭社会经济地位高是早期求医和到外地求医的强烈预测因素。结论是，母亲年龄、母亲教育程度和家庭社会经济地位是儿童疾病适当求医行为的预测因素。
