Assessment of Health Care Seeking Behavior among House Hold Heads in Dale Woreda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia, Ethiopia Fikre Bojola ? , Samuel Dessu ? , Zinabu Dawit ? , Fessahaye Alemseged ? & Fasil Tessema ¥ Abstract-Introduction: Health seeking behavior refers to activities undertaken by persons related to diseases experience. The initiation and treatment need for sick women, children, adolescents, and the old household members are usually determined by household heads. While household heads who are sick will independently decide to seek health care. There is limited information on the level of health care seeking behavior and associated factors among household heads. Therefore, assessing factors associated with health care seeking behavior among household heads have significant role in filling the information gap to control inappropriate health care seeking practice and its outcomes. Objective: To assess health care seeking behavior & its associated factor among household heads of Dale woreda from February to March 2017. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dale woreda by using quantitative data collection methods. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select household heads from rural and urban areas. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire and entered into a computer using Epi data 4.13 and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 20. Result: A total of 804 household heads (625 rural and 179 urban) giving a response rate of 95.3%. Among the study participants male comprises 693(86.2%) and female comprises 111(13.8%).Majority of the sick individual lies in age group of 18-30 years which accounts for 372 ( 46.3%). The overall appropriate health care seeking behavior of household heads was 585 (72.8%) at the study area. Residence [AOR=3.32, 95% CI: 1.94, 5.68], Educational level [AOR=4. 26,95%CI: 2.16,8.43], Monthly income [AOR=2.98, 95%CI: 1.37, 5.68] and Family size [AOR=2.29, 95%CI: 1.64, 3.19] were the independent predictor of health seeking behavior. # I. Introduction ealth seeking behavior refers to activities undertaken by persons related to diseases experience. (1). It is affected by different factors such as individuals' Characteristics, disease status and access to health services (2). Also, it is affected by the Individuals knowledge and awareness. Among different populations, this behavior has difficult outcome of many factors operating at different hierarchical levels especially in rurals including their biologic, social profile, previous experiences with the health care services, community level influences, availability of health care providers alternatives (1). Many of health-seeking behavior studies indicate that health service and resources remain inadequately used. To adopt and increase the health practices understanding human behavior is a factor. Regarding the provision of health care services and health policy different experts were aware. (3). The general prevalence in south-west Ethiopia was 58.4% (4) 38.7% in rural populations in Ethiopia (5). The factors which alter the health-seeking behavior are Cultural customs, residence, distance to functioning health centers and finance in health facilities (6). Worldwide Health promotion supports providing knowledge about the causes of illness and possible alternatives will go a long way to promote a change in health-seeking behavior. However, in the world, the recognition is growing up, and health education and the level of knowledge is not adequate to promote a change in behavior. Different Studies conducted on healthseeking behavior, confirm that various factors, demonstrates the individual behaviors complexity and its influence in a specified period and area (7). Generally, it is recognized that identifying and controlling the determinants associated with health care seeking behavior have positive impacts on modern health services utilization. Recognition of manifestation of diseases is essential for early initiation of health care seeking. Household-level illness diagnosis is related with the choice made between health treatment alternatives. The resulting patterns of health-seeking behavior determine the net disease magnitude in a given society. At the household level, the process of seeking modern health care was found to vary considerably between the adult men on one hand, and other household members on the other. While adult men who fall sick can independently decide to seek health care, women, children, adolescents and the old consistently indicated that it is another household member who H usually determines the timing and the type of treatment when they are attributable to illness episodes. In different regions of Latin America, Asia and Africa traditional medicine (TM) is performed. 80% of the population's in Africa and also 80% in Ethiopia traditional medicine is used for health care because the populations culture accepts the traditional healers due to the inaccessibility of the modernized health institutions and in need of cost minimization (3,8). Early detection of diseases or its indicator is needed to initiate health seeking and treatment. Household-level illness diagnosis is related with the choice made between health treatment alternatives. The resulting patterns of health-seeking behavior determine the net burden of disease in a given society. At the household level, the process of seeking modern health care was found to vary considerably between the adult men on one hand, and other household members on the other. While adult men who fall sick can independently decide to seek health care, women, children, adolescents, and the old consistently indicated that it is another household member who usually determines the timing and the type of treatment when they are subject to illness episodes. The main underlying reason for the above decision-making process is that adult men are responsible for the health care costs for women and children. The study found that even in situations where the wife pays for her health care, the husband must reimburse the money spent on her afterward. Depending on whether or not he is willing and able to pay for medical attention, the husband/father of a sick woman/child may decide to delay modernized treatment and rely on cheaper traditional medicines for a while. Depending on their assessment, adult males may also judge the illness of a woman/child as not enough to merit medical attention. When community members get sick, they do not usually seek health care from modern health facilities immediately. Instead, they opt for other alternatives, including not seeking medical care at all, self-medication with drugs obtained from drug vendors, back street marketers, over the counter in shops and pharmacies, and traditional medicine (9). The study conducted in Addis Ababa indicated that One-third of all illnesses were treated by modern services 19.9% by self-care. The utilization rates of modernized medicine is varied due to the type of disease and its duration, socioeconomic characteristics and level, sex, age and the area of residence (10). Health care policies and programs' planning requires knowledge about health-seeking behavior for early diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate intervention implementation (11). Also, health service delivery was inefficient and unfair, and quality of healthcare was usually poor between urban and rural (12). The former residents are expected to be open to different new ideas and exposures, and they are committed to practicing different things on a trial and correct errors (13). But also they are exposed to a certain tradition, not changing and does not accept change and refuse the cultural values and expectations (14,15). Most studies on health-seeking behavior in Ethiopia have been disease specific particularly on malaria, TB, & Maternal health etc (16). Since no similar study in the study area on health care seeking behavior among household heads, this study helped to assess the health-seeking behavior among household heads and identified factor affecting health care seeking behavior. This study determined the magnitude of health care seeking behavior and identified the common determinants that affect health care seeking behavior. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence-based information to the community, local government and health care providers and policy makers'. Based on the available information possible intervention will be made. The objective of this study was to assess health care seeking behavior & its associated factors among household heads in Dale woreda, Sidama Zone, Ethiopia, 2017. # II. Methods and Materials a) Study Area Dale woreda is one of nineteen woredas in Sidama Zone having total population 242,658 of Which 122,918 are males and 119,740 are females. Yirgalem town is one of the town administration in Sidama Zone found in Dale woreda which is 45 km far from Hawassa. Dale woreda has a total of 31 rural kebele and seven urban kebeles and 49, 244 households. The health service coverage of the woreda in 2010 is 86%. (Census 2007, CSA). # b) Study Period The actual data collection was carried in February-March 2017. # c) Study Design A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among household heads residents of Dale Woreda to assess health-seeking behavior and its associated factors. This design was selected considering the time allocated for data collection and availability of study subject. # III. Population a) Source Population All households in Dale woreda with household heads were sick in the last four week before the survey date. # b) Study Population Randomly selected household heads from the source population. Household heads who were sick in the last four weeks from the survey date. # Conceptual Frame-Work # d) Inclusion and Exclusion criteria Inclusion Criteria Household head's who were sick in the last four weeks from the survey date. # i. Inclusion Criteria Household head's who were sick in the last four weeks from the survey date. ii. Exclusion Criteria ? Household heads who were critically sick and noncommunicative for the last four Weeks. ? Household heads who were sick for the last four week with self-limiting diseases like common cold. # IV. Sample Size Determination and Sampling Procedure # a) Sample Size Determination The final sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula through considering the following assumptions; P=proportion of health care seeking behavior. Since the proportion for this particular study was unknown, p = 50%, to get the maximum sample size. # b) Sampling Techniques A multi-stage sampling design was used to select primary sampling units (kebeles) and secondary sampling units (households) from the woreda. The kebeles were selected using simple random sampling method. A complete census was carried out in all the selected kebeles before the actual data collection time. By using the information from census, representative sample of individuals/household head from each Kebeles included in the study by using PPS. Systematic sampling method was employed to select the household heads from each kebele, where the sampling interval was the total numbers of sick household heads in each kebele divided by the corresponding number of sick household heads were interviewed in each kebele. Data was collected from the first household head by using the kebele house number given during census for urban and rural household head register using simple random sampling method. # V. Measurements a) Questionnaires The data was collected by using structured a local language (sidamigna) version questionnaires consisting of Socio-demographic characteristics of sick household heads different questions regarding healthseeking behavior including the utilization of health services and types of health care needed and factor affecting health-seeking behavior. # b) Data Collection Techniques The data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires filled by data collectors. The data collection format was prepared in English and was translated from English to local language (sidamigna) and was re-translated back to English to check the reliability of the instrument. Datas were collected by interviewing the Household heads .The house to house visit continued until the sample size required was secured. During data collection, the data collectors found locked houses and re-visited. # c) Quality Assurance Before undertaking the data collection, instrument was tested taking 44 household heads in Abesto kebele for the feasibility of the questionnaires. Based on the findings Modifications were done. The pre-tested data was not included in the data. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was checked. The Grades 10 th completed ten interviewers were selected as data collectors who could speak the local language (Sidamign) fluently. Two nurses were recruited as supervisor considering their knowledge of biomedical practice (this was taken as a resource of information for data collectors). Both interviewers and supervisors were trained, demonstrated, and practiced on the data collection technique. The data collectors were given data collecting instrument on the morning of each day. At the end of each day, the supervisors checked the completeness of the questionnaires. The data collectors came cross with the locked house during data collection and re -visited. # VI. # Data Analysis To ensure that all needed information was collected and recorded appropriately, the supervisors and principal investigator checked data in the field. Data analysis was started by sorting and performing quality control checked up at the field. The data entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. It was justified that all totals correspond to the total number of study units. There were columns for no response or missing data to arrive at accurate total figures. Data clean up was performed by cheek for frequencies, accuracy, outliers, and consistencies and missed values and variables. Frequencies, proportions, and summary statistics were used to describe the study population about relevant variables using tables, charts and graphs. Odds ratio and the chi-square test were computed to assess the strength of the associations. The bivariate analysis was carried out to calculate the crude odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). For all statically significance tests, the cut of value set was P<.05 as this considered statically significant. Since crude odds ratio (OR) did not take into account the effect of the confounding variable(s), multivariate analysis were applied by fitting the logistic regression. # VII. Ethical Considerations Before data collection, ethical clearance was taken from the ethical clearance committee of the Jimma University, Institute of health science. A formal letter of permission was obtained from administrative bodies of the zone to the woreda and then to the respective kebeles. Moreover, confidentiality assured for the information provided since the name of study participant was not stated on the questionnaire rather coding system was applied. The purpose of the study was described to the study participants. Before starting the interview, the respondents were requested for their verbal consent to participate in the study and obtained. During survey, the interviewer did not find the debilitated, neglected and sick individuals in critical condition # VIII. Result a) Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors A total of 804 households heads were involved in giving a response rate of 95.3 %. Among the study participants male comprises 693 (86.2%) and 111 (13.8%) were females. Majority of the sick individual lies at the age group of 18-25 years which accounts for 372 (46.3%). Seven hundred thirty-one (90.9%) of study participant had monthly income <1170 birr. The next household heads were interviewed systematically. The corresponding number of sick household heads were interviewed in each kebele /total number of sick household heads in each kebele, =1/5.3, a k=5 interval for urban household heads and systematically at (corresponding number of sick household heads were interviewed in each kebele /total number of sick household heads in each kebele 1/3.8, k =4) interval for rural household heads. The title of health professionals reported among modern health facility visitors were Doctors 162 (27.7%), Nurses 145 (24.8%), health officer 16 (2.7%), health extension workers 94 (16.7%) and 168 (28.7) did not know the title of health care providers. Participants reported Health professional approach during health care provision as respectful 301 (73.6%), polite 299 # IX. Discussion In this study, the magnitude of appropriate health care seeking behavior among household heads for symptom experienced was 72.8 % in the surveyed communities with urban household heads sought 89.9 % and 67.8 % rural household heads. There is an increment of utilization of modern health service in both residences in current study compared to a study done in Amhara region, Ethiopia revealed that 52.3% in urban and 29.6% in rural and similar Study conducted in Zambia and Nigeria indicated 43.5% and 48.9% respectively (35,24). The study conducted in Senegal showed almost similar findings (75%) with current study (28). The improvement might be due to continuous efforts to strengthen the health system, infrastructure, increase public awareness, and involvement of community health extension workers and building staff capacity. Similarly, study conducted in Tanzania indicated 87.7% of rural respondents sought health service from the modern facility (37). This finding is high compared to current study findings which shows 67.8% of rural households sought health service from a modern facility. The big difference observed here might be due to the differences in methodologies (difference in geographical differences, sampling techniques and the difference in definition of health care seeking behavior). In this study, the magnitude of inappropriate health care seeking behavior among household head for symptom experienced was 27.2 % in the surveyed communities. The research conducted in Amhara region, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia indicated that preference for non formal facilities was 47.3%, 37.5% and 56.5 % respectively (35,36). The difference might be due to improvement in accessibility of institutions and health information delivery by health extension program (HEP). Forty-three percent of household heads reported lack of money was the most common reason for not seeking health service from a modern health facility. Study conducted in Pakistan and Nigeria 62% & 50.3% respectively supported the current study findings (34,25). The study conducted in Tanzania showed that only 12.3% did not seek health service from a modern health facility which is three times less than the current findings (37). The possible explanation might be due to the differences in methodologies (the different approach in data the collection, study population, the location of studies, and difference in definition of health seeking behavior). Average monthly income was significantly affects health care seeking behaviors of household heads in the study area. (34, 36 24, 19). The possible explanation might be those household heads who earn high monthly income may have more access to information. The affordability of health care service may not bother them. In this study, family size showed highly significant (p=0.00) association with health care seeking behavior. Households heads whose family size < 5 were 2.29 times more likely to have appropriate healthseeking behavior than those households heads whose family size >5. Population-based cross sectional Study conducted in North West Ethiopia revealed similar findings (19). This might be because that those who have the larger family members should carry more responsibilities and experienced severe socio-economic hardship which prevented them from seeking appropriate health care from modern health facilities for symptom experienced. Educational status was highly significant (p=0.00) with the utilization of modern health service. Those households heads whose Educational level high school and above were (AOR =4.26, 95%CI 2.16, 8.43) 4.26 times more likely to have appropriate healthseeking behavior than those households heads who had non-formal education. The study conducted in four regions of Ethiopia revealed that household heads with informal education are 1.6 times (95% CI 1.07 to 2.46, p=0.02) more likely to take their children to health centers for ARI/pneumonia (baseline is health posts) which potentially offer a higher quality of care as compared with household heads with no education. Household heads with primary or secondary education are systematically more likely to seek care immediately as opposed to their less educated counterparts. Study conducted in Pakistan showed that educational status of head of household (OR =3.4 95%CI 2.1,5) were significantly related to utilization of modern health institutions. A similar study conducted in Benue state also revealed that educational level is statistically significant on health-seeking behavior (34,47,18). This might be due to that better-educated people are aware of health problem, know more about the availability of health-care services, and use this information more effectively to maintain or achieve good health status. Residence of household's heads was highly significant with appropriate health-seeking behavior. Urban households were 3.32 times more likely to seek health care than rural households (AOR=3.32, 95% CI: 1.94, 5.68) at p-value <0.001. This study is similar to the findings in Jamaica that indicated healthcare seeking behavior could be explained by area of residence in which urban households were more likely to have health-seeking behavior than rural households. Consistent study conducted in Pakistan showed that urban residence (AOR= 2.8, 95%CI 1.8, 4.5) were significantly related to utilization of modern health institutions (44,34). This might be due to urban households had better accessibility to service. The limitation of the study is it may have social desirability bias and recall bias. Institutional Factors? Price of health service? Distance from health facilities? Approaches of health professional? Satisfaction of health serviceSocio-Economic andDemographic Factors? Age? Sex ? Marital Status ? Occupation ? Educational Status ? Income ? Family SizeHealth Care Seeking BehaviorHealth Belief Factors ? Attitude toward health service ? Knowledge about diseases21 Year 2018? Religion ? Ethnicity ? Residence (Urban or Rural)Individual Factors ? Self Medication ? Traditional Medicine ? Perceived severity of diseasesVolume XVIII Issue I Version ID D D D ) F(Medical ResearchGlobal Journal of© 2018 Global Journals 1b) Health care seeking behaviorInappropriate health seeking care behaviori. Appropriate health care seeking behavior Overall appropriate health care seeking behavior of household heads was 585 (72.8%) at the study area. Public health center was the most common place where two hundred twenty-two (37.9%) participants sought health care, and only 10 (1.7%) participants sought health service from a private hospital.reported among household heads was self-treatment 81(37.0%), traditional healer 38(17.4%) and did not know where to go/ nothing 100(45.6%). In addition to that 34 (15.5%), respondents did not know where best treatment is available. But 145 (66.2%) and 40 (18.3%) respondents believed that best treatment is available in a modern health institution and traditional healer respectively. 2 3SNNPR, May 2017 4 5VariableNo%Who did you talk to / see at modern health service care unit? (n=585) Doctors Nurse Health extension workers. I do not know162 16 94 16827.7 2.7 16.1 28.7Health professional approach during treatment provision (n=585). Respectful Polite Knowledgeable Friendly Would you return to seek advice or treatment (n=585) Yes No301 299 276 358 417 16873.6 72.9 67.3 87.5 71.3 28.725 Year 2018Health Care Seeking BehaviorVolume XVIII Issue I Version IVariablesYes No (%)No No (%)COR (95% CI)( D D D D ) FEthnicity Sidama Amhara Gurage Woilata Others Residence Urban Rural Family size <5 >5 Educational status Had no formal education359( 71.4) 50 ( 67.6) 55(82.1) 68 ( 73.9) 53(77.9) 161( 89.9) 424( 67.8) 380(79.2) 205(63.3) 225(67.0)144(28.6) 24( 32.4) 12( 17.9) 24( 26.1) 15 (22.1). 18(10.1) 201(32.2) 100(20.8) 119(36.7) 111(33.0)1 0.84(0.49,1.41) 1.84(0.96,3.53) 1.14(0.69,1.89) 1.42(0.77,2.59) 1 2.21(1.61,3.02)** 1 1 4.23( 2.53,7.09)**Global Journal of Medical ResearchPrimary education (1-8)236(70.9)97(29.1)1.20(0.86,1.67)High school & above124(91.9)11(8.1)5.56(2.88,10.72)**Monthly income (in birr)<1170520(71.1)211(28.9)1>117065(89.0)8(11)3.29(1.56,6.99)*Occupational statusFarmer391(69.7)170( 30.3)1Employee135(79.9)34( 20.1)1.73(1.14,2.62)*Others59(79.7)15(20.3)1.71(0.99,3.10)© 2018 Global Journals 6 Health Care Seeking BehaviorVariablesYes No (%).No No (%)COR (95% CI)AOR (95%CI)EthnicitySidama359( 71.4)144(28.6)1Amhara50 ( 67.6)24( 32.4)0.84(0.49,1.41)Gurage55(82.1)12( 17.9)1.84(0.96,3.53)Woilata68 ( 73.9)24( 26.1)1.14(0.69,1.89)Others53(77.9)15 (22.1).1.42(0.77,2.59)ResidenceUrban161( 89.9)18(10.1)4.23( 2.53,7.09)**3.32(1.94,5.68)**Rural424( 67.8)201(32.2)11Family size<5380(79.2)100(20.8)2.21(1.61,3.02)**2.29(1.64, 3.19)**>5205(63.3)119(36.7)11Educational statusHad no formal education225(67.0)111(33.0)11Primary education (1-8)236(70.9)97(29.1)1.20(0.86,1.67)1.32(0.94,1.86)High school & above124(91.9)11(8.1)5.56(2.88,10.72)**4.26(2.16,8.43)**Monthly income (in birr)<1170520(71.1)211(28.9)11>117065(89.0)8(11)3.29(1.56,6.99)*2.98(1.37,5.68)*Occupational statusFarmer391(69.7)170( 30.3)1Employee135(79.9)34( 20.1)1.73(1.14,2.62)*Others59(79.7)15(20.3)1.71(0.99,3.10)The odds of having appropriatehealth-seeking behavior for symptom experiencedamong household heads earning a monthly real per ## Acknowledgement We would like to provide our thank to Jimma university department of Epidemiology, Arba minch health science college and the participants for their wonderful contribution. * Health promotion, health education and the public health KeithTones 2004 Oxford University Press Oxford Textbook of Public Health. 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