Health seeking behaviour of parents for children with pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION

Health knowledge seeking behaviour is increasing throughout the world. Our study is trying to find out this attitude among parents of children with pneumonia.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted to analyse all admitted children with pneumonia at Dhulikhel Hospital from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007. "Duration of illness at home prior to hospital presentation" was taken as the index of health seeking behaviour of the parents.

RESULTS

The mean duration of illness prior to hospital presentation for males and females were 4.40 days and 4.16 days respectively (P > 0.05). Children who had been hospitalised in the past had a mean of 4.93 days; those never hospitalised before had 4.08 days (P > 0.05). Children from Bhaktapur and Kathmandu were brought to the hospital the earliest. Younger children were brought to the hospital sooner; children less than five years were brought earlier, particularly infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Health seeking behaviour of the parents is affected by age of the children and geographical location. However, previous hospitalisation of the child and their gender do not affect health seeking behaviour of the parents.