Wambui Winfred Muringi, Kimani Samuel, Odhiambo Eunice
University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing Sciences, P.O. Box 19676- 00202 Nairobi, Kenya.
Int J Pediatr. 2018 Dec 16;2018:5190287. doi: 10.1155/2018/5190287. eCollection 2018.
Poor, delayed, or inappropriate health seeking for a sick infant with acute childhood illness is associated with high morbidity/mortality. Delay in health seeking is implicated with fatal complications and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, caregivers ought to identify danger signs and promptly seek professional help for a sick infant.
Establish determinants of health seeking behavior among caregivers of infants admitted with acute childhood illnesses in Kenyatta National Hospital.
A mixed method cross-sectional study involving caregivers (n=130) of sick infants. Semistructured questionnaire and two focused group discussions were used to gather data on caregiver knowledge on danger signs, health care seeking options, and decision-making regarding health care seeking. Data was analyzed with SPSS V. 22.
Knowledge of danger signs of infancy was poor. Immediate health seeking was associated with tertiary [P=0.009] and secondary [P=0.030] education, knowledgeability on danger signs [P=0.002], and being married [P=0.019]. Respondents who resided in urban [P=0.034] or less than a kilometer [P=0.042] from a health facility sought care immediately. Those who rated services as excellent (P=0.005) and satisfactory (P=0.025) sought care promptly.
Poor knowledge on danger signs of infancy was common among caregivers blurring the magnitude of acute illness resulting in delayed health seeking. Knowledgeability of danger signs of infancy, high educational level, and being married were associated with immediate health care seeking. Caregivers who resided in urban setting and/or near a health facility were linked to immediate health seeking. Additionally, satisfaction and perception of quality health care services were associated with immediate health seeking. Interventions with caregivers should involve capacity building through partnership with families and communities to raise awareness of danger signs of infancy. Strengthening of health care system to offer quality basic health services could improve health seeking behavior. Provision of a seamless supply system, infrastructural support, and technical support for soft skills minimize the turnaround time which is critical.
患有急性儿童疾病的患病婴儿寻求医疗服务不及时、延迟或不恰当会导致高发病率/死亡率。寻求医疗服务的延迟与致命并发症和延长住院时间有关。因此，照顾者应该识别危险信号，并及时为患病婴儿寻求专业帮助。
确定肯雅塔国家医院收治的患有急性儿童疾病的婴儿的照顾者中寻求医疗行为的决定因素。
一项混合方法的横断面研究，涉及患病婴儿的照顾者（n = 130）。使用半结构化问卷和两次焦点小组讨论来收集关于照顾者对危险信号的知识、寻求医疗保健的选择以及关于寻求医疗保健的决策的数据。数据用SPSS V. 22进行分析。
对婴儿危险信号的了解较差。立即寻求医疗服务与接受高等教育[P = 0.009]和中等教育[P = 0.030]、对危险信号的了解程度[P = 0.002]以及已婚[P = 0.019]有关。居住在城市的受访者[P = 0.034]或距离医疗机构不到一公里的受访者[P = 0.042]会立即寻求医疗服务。那些将服务评为优秀（P = 0.005）和满意（P = 0.025）的人会及时寻求医疗服务。
照顾者对婴儿危险信号的了解普遍较差，这模糊了急性疾病的严重程度，导致寻求医疗服务延迟。对婴儿危险信号的了解、高教育水平和已婚与立即寻求医疗服务有关。居住在城市环境和/或靠近医疗机构的照顾者与立即寻求医疗服务有关。此外，对优质医疗服务的满意度和认知与立即寻求医疗服务有关。对照顾者的干预应包括通过与家庭和社区合作进行能力建设，以提高对婴儿危险信号的认识。加强医疗保健系统以提供优质的基本医疗服务可以改善寻求医疗行为。提供无缝供应系统、基础设施支持和软技能技术支持可最大限度地缩短周转时间，这至关重要。
