Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India
Purpose: To report the health-seeking behaviors of individuals with acute viral conjunctivitis during an outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh after an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in July–August 2023. Results: The treatment choices we...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/IJO.IJO_849_24 |
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| _version_ | 1841556818507071488 |
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| author | Samrat Chatterjee Anil B Gangwe Deepshikha Agrawal |
| author_facet | Samrat Chatterjee Anil B Gangwe Deepshikha Agrawal |
| author_sort | Samrat Chatterjee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose:
To report the health-seeking behaviors of individuals with acute viral conjunctivitis during an outbreak.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh after an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in July–August 2023.
Results:
The treatment choices were pharmacies (51.4%), ophthalmologists (21.1%), quacks (non-qualified doctors) (6.8%), general practitioners (1.6%), home remedies (5.2%), and no treatment (13.9%). Treatment preferences were influenced by place of residence (P < 0.001), occupation (P = 0.002), socioeconomic category (P < 0.001), and highest level of education of male (P < 0.001) and female (P < 0.001) members within the household. The overall expenditure was higher when patients sought treatment from quacks (INR 427.27 ± 202.21), followed by ophthalmologists (INR 374.57 ± 251.31) and pharmacies (INR 201.39 ± 102.65) (P < 0.001). Individuals aged 21–40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05–1.03, P = 0.055) and those from villages (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07–0.32, P < 0.001) were less likely to use prophylaxis. Individuals from families with high level of education of male members (OR: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.08–7.20, P = 0.039) or large family sizes (OR: 6.27, 95% CI: 2.42–19.09, P = 0.039) were more likely to use prophylaxis. The use of separate items of daily use reduced the risk of spread of conjunctivitis (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06–0.35, P = 0.035).
Conclusion:
Several insights into health-seeking behaviors among individuals with conjunctivitis during an outbreak were identified in this study, which can aid public health interventions during future outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b39cdf5c5bfd477584fa7955d344418c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0301-4738 1998-3689 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b39cdf5c5bfd477584fa7955d344418c2025-01-07T06:27:42ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Ophthalmology0301-47381998-36892025-01-01731455110.4103/IJO.IJO_849_24Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central IndiaSamrat ChatterjeeAnil B GangweDeepshikha AgrawalPurpose: To report the health-seeking behaviors of individuals with acute viral conjunctivitis during an outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh after an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in July–August 2023. Results: The treatment choices were pharmacies (51.4%), ophthalmologists (21.1%), quacks (non-qualified doctors) (6.8%), general practitioners (1.6%), home remedies (5.2%), and no treatment (13.9%). Treatment preferences were influenced by place of residence (P < 0.001), occupation (P = 0.002), socioeconomic category (P < 0.001), and highest level of education of male (P < 0.001) and female (P < 0.001) members within the household. The overall expenditure was higher when patients sought treatment from quacks (INR 427.27 ± 202.21), followed by ophthalmologists (INR 374.57 ± 251.31) and pharmacies (INR 201.39 ± 102.65) (P < 0.001). Individuals aged 21–40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05–1.03, P = 0.055) and those from villages (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07–0.32, P < 0.001) were less likely to use prophylaxis. Individuals from families with high level of education of male members (OR: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.08–7.20, P = 0.039) or large family sizes (OR: 6.27, 95% CI: 2.42–19.09, P = 0.039) were more likely to use prophylaxis. The use of separate items of daily use reduced the risk of spread of conjunctivitis (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06–0.35, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Several insights into health-seeking behaviors among individuals with conjunctivitis during an outbreak were identified in this study, which can aid public health interventions during future outbreaks.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/IJO.IJO_849_24epidemichealth-seeking behaviorsoutbreakprophylaxistreatmentviral conjunctivitis |
| spellingShingle | Samrat Chatterjee Anil B Gangwe Deepshikha Agrawal Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India Indian Journal of Ophthalmology epidemic health-seeking behaviors outbreak prophylaxis treatment viral conjunctivitis |
| title | Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India |
| title_full | Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India |
| title_fullStr | Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India |
| title_short | Health-seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in Central India |
| title_sort | health seeking behaviors during an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis in central india |
| topic | epidemic health-seeking behaviors outbreak prophylaxis treatment viral conjunctivitis |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/IJO.IJO_849_24 |
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