Treatment-Seeking Behaviors of Families for under Five Children in Field Practice Area of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha

Abstract

Context: Globally, India had the largest population of under-five (127 million), and the greatest number of under five deaths (2.1 million) in 2006. Nearly about 2 million of cases of diarrhea occur annually in India. An average Indian child below 5 years of age can have 2–3 episodes of diarrhea. It contributes to nearly 2.1 million of the global burden of 9.7 million under five deaths, which is the highest for any nation in the world. The Millennium Development Goal 4 aimed at reducing under-five mortality by two-third till year 2015 which remained unachieved and sustainable development goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages including under-five children by the year 2030. The health and treatment-seeking behavior of parents and caregivers has direct reflection over child survival statistics of India. The present study has been conducted to study the determinants of treatment-seeking behavior of families for illness of under-five children in the field practice area of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Aims: A study on the treatment-seeking behaviors of families for illnesses of under-five children in field practice area of JNMC, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Objectives: The objective of this study is to know the treatment-seeking behaviors of families for under-five children in rural areas. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in the field practice area of community medicine JNMC, Sawangi Wardha, Maharashtra, India. The present study was carried out in the adopted villages from the field practice area of Wardha district by the JNMC. The present study was a community-based, cross-sectional study, and the study period was 6 months (i.e., from July 2019 to December 2019). The study participants comprised of the caregivers of children under-5 years of age and including mothers and other family members who were primarily responsible for attending the child's health. All children in the age group of 0 to 5 years from the study area were identified for the same (from Anganwadi's in the villages). The study participants, i.e., parents who were ready to participate in the study by signing the written consent were included in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: A predesigned and prestructured questionnaire was prepared and implemented for data collection. Results: The results showed that most of the under-five children were in the age group of 2–3 years. Most of the under-five children were having itching on skin followed by fever and diarrhea. Most of the parents took their under-five children to ANM's or the government hospital situated at their place. Conclusions: The present study concludes that treatment-seeking practices among parents for under-five children in the adopted villages of medical college are satisfactory in terms of qualified treatment provider and compliance to the treatment.