Abstract: a cross-sectional study in fatikchhari, Chittagong
The objective of the study was to assess the socioeconomic status & health-seeking behavior of the selected rural community people. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 221 community people residing in 18 Unions of Fatikchhari Upazila. An interviewer assisted survey questionnaire was used. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows version 20. Of the 221 patients’ majority were female (54%). The mean age of participants was 40±11 (SD); around 60% of respondents seek health care from village doctors and nearby local health centers. However, one-third number of the population (35%) visited formal healthcare providers, such as registered Doctors, Physiotherapists, Dentists, and Nurses having government-approved professional degrees. The highest number of respondents seeks health care for fever (23%) followed by maternal and child related conditions (22%) and pain, paralysis, and arthritis-related issues (22%). This study identified the number of factors affecting health-seeking behavior including sociodemographic, knowledge and perception towards healthcare, etc. Awareness-raising activities, education for health behavior change & pro-people healthcare delivery interventions may be instituted.
Keywords: socioeconomic status, health-seeking behavior, rural people, semi-structured
Introduction
Health seeking behavior is considered the primary and most vital step toward the medication of any health-related complexity.1 It is well explored that, healthcare-seeking behaviors and local practicing knowledge requires consideration in intervention to bring better health output in a variety of context.2 By understanding the conceptualization of people of the cause of their disease and the perception on any particular health-related problem helps to explore their health-seeking behavior.3 It is widely acknowledged that exploring the health-seeking behavior in different socioeconomic levels of any community is crucial for proper planning and implementing effective health services, particularly for poor community.4 Socioeconomic status is having a greater impact on health care utilization especially in developing countries that is documented in many studies. For instance, wealthier families are about twice the time to take health care services from formal and informal practitioners.5 Socioeconomic factors including educational level, economic conditions, cultural beliefs, residence location, etc. play a significant role to determine health care behavior of a community overall.6 Low socioeconomic status is a common barrier to get health services for people and those direct and indirect factors are- doctor fees, cost of transport, medicine etc.5 It is found from empirical studies from Bangladesh and few other countries that, the socio-economic condition is considerable factors of health care seeking behavior for a community.7 From this mentioned backdrops, it is necessary to understand the health-seeking behavior and explore the socioeconomic determinants on this especially low economic community. Therefore, this study has been conducted in rural areas of Bangladesh to identify the socioeconomic factors and phenomenon of rural communities on their healthcare-seeking behavior. By doing this, any new socioeconomic factors might include that can open a new door for policymakers to make effective and timely health intervention model.
Conclusion
This study concludes that a number of factors affecting health-seeking behavior were identified. Some of them include sociodemographic, knowledge, and perception towards healthcare, etc. Awareness-raising activities, education for health behavior change & pro-people healthcare delivery interventions are recommended.
About KSRA
The Kavian Scientific Research Association (KSRA) is a non-profit research organization to provide research / educational services in December 2013. The members of the community had formed a virtual group on the Viber social network. The core of the Kavian Scientific Association was formed with these members as founders. These individuals, led by Professor Siavosh Kaviani, decided to launch a scientific / research association with an emphasis on education.
KSRA research association, as a non-profit research firm, is committed to providing research services in the field of knowledge. The main beneficiaries of this association are public or private knowledge-based companies, students, researchers, researchers, professors, universities, and industrial and semi-industrial centers around the world.
Our main services Based on Education for all Spectrum people in the world. We want to make an integration between researches and educations. We believe education is the main right of Human beings. So our services should be concentrated on inclusive education.
The KSRA team partners with local under-served communities around the world to improve the access to and quality of knowledge based on education, amplify and augment learning programs where they exist, and create new opportunities for e-learning where traditional education systems are lacking or non-existent.
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Socioeconomic status & health seeking behavior of rural people: a cross sectional study in fatikchhari, ChittagongSocioeconomic status & health-seeking behavior of rural people: a cross-sectional study in fatikchhari,
Chittagong
DOI: 10.15406/mojph.2016.04.00090.
Citation: Siddique MdKB, Khan S, Haque Md, et al. …
Volume 4 Issue 4 – 2016
Kaoser Bin Siddique Md,
Shamim Khan,
Shahidul Haque Md,
Monaemul Islam Sizear,
Arafat ul Alam,
Monoarul Haque Md6
Manager- Research, Evaluation & Development (RED)
Department, Lion Mukhlesur Rahman Foundation (LMRF),
Bangladesh
Executive Director, Lion Mukhlesur Rahman Foundation
(LMRF), Bangladesh
Lecturer, Jagannath University, Bangladesh
Project Coordinator, SAJIDA Foundation, Bangladesh
Consultant, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control &
Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh
Report Reviewer, NIPORT, Bangladesh
Correspondence: Kaoser Bin Siddique Md, Lion Mukhlesur
Rahman Foundation (LMRF), Bangladesh,
Email munna371@yahoo.com
Received: May 07, 2016 | Published: May 24, 2016
Citation: Siddique MdKB, Khan S, Haque Md, et al. Socioeconomic status & health-seeking behavior of rural people: a cross-sectional study in fatikchhari, Chittagong. MOJ Public Health. 2016;4(4):127–131. DOI: 10.15406/mojph.2016.04.00090
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by Lion Mukhlesur Rahman Foundation. We are grateful to all staff of Lion Mukhlesur Rahman Foundation as well as community people.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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Professor Siavosh Kaviani was born in 1961 in Tehran. He had a professorship. He holds a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from the QL University of Software Development Methodology and an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Chelsea.
Maryam kakaei was born in 1984 in Arak. She holds a Master's degree in Software Engineering from Azad University of Arak.
Nasim Gazerani was born in 1983 in Arak. She holds a Master's degree in Software Engineering from UM University of Malaysia.
