The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background Almost 10 million children under the age of five in Kenya, die due to fever-related diseases. In Busia, a county in Kenya, malaria accounts for 13% of all child fatalities under the age of five, a number higher than any other county. This study aimed to determine (a) proportion of appropr...

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Main Authors: Jean L. Kananura, Betsy C.Rono, Kamija S.Phiri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2024-12-01
Series:Open Research Europe
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Online Access:https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-143/v2
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author Jean L. Kananura
Betsy C.Rono
Kamija S.Phiri
author_facet Jean L. Kananura
Betsy C.Rono
Kamija S.Phiri
author_sort Jean L. Kananura
collection DOAJ
description Background Almost 10 million children under the age of five in Kenya, die due to fever-related diseases. In Busia, a county in Kenya, malaria accounts for 13% of all child fatalities under the age of five, a number higher than any other county. This study aimed to determine (a) proportion of appropriate health-seeking behavior and (b) determinants of health-seeking behaviors (HSBs) among their caregivers in Butula Sub-County, Busia County, as reported by the caregivers. Methods This cross-sectional mixed-method study included 271 caregivers, 11 community health volunteers, and health facility workers in Butula Sub-County. Systematic random sampling for participants and purposive sampling for key informants were used. A questionnaire collected the data that was analysed using frequency and percentages and logistic regression. Results Around seventy percent of caregivers reported seeking care for a child's fever within 24 hours. Individual factors that caregivers reported to influence appropriate health-seeking HSB were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.217 – 0.593, p = 0.018), self-medication preference (aOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.054 – 0.363, p < 0.001), had atleast two children (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.425 – 0.937, p = 0.042), and confidence in identifying fever (aOR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.200 – 22.439, p = 0.001). Health-system factors reported to influence HSBs were facility too far (aOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.526 – 0.914, p = 0.027), getting health education (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.201-4.122, p=0.015), and facility level (aOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.015 – 9.750, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings found health system factors related to HSB as stockouts, facility distance, and staff workload. Conclusions Employment, multiple children, preferences to self-medicate, confidence in fever identification, facility level, distance to facility, and education are ky factors affecting caregiver’s HSB. Policy and practice efforts should focus on these significant individual and health system determinants for HSBs among caregivers of children under five with febrile illness.
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spelling doaj-art-b5d43fb88cbb4dd69df137d2955a36042024-12-13T01:00:03ZengF1000 Research LtdOpen Research Europe2732-51212024-12-01420726The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Jean L. Kananura0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5360-646XBetsy C.Rono1Kamija S.Phiri2Environmental health and disease control, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenyaenvironmental health and disease control, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Nairobi County, KenyaSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, MalawiBackground Almost 10 million children under the age of five in Kenya, die due to fever-related diseases. In Busia, a county in Kenya, malaria accounts for 13% of all child fatalities under the age of five, a number higher than any other county. This study aimed to determine (a) proportion of appropriate health-seeking behavior and (b) determinants of health-seeking behaviors (HSBs) among their caregivers in Butula Sub-County, Busia County, as reported by the caregivers. Methods This cross-sectional mixed-method study included 271 caregivers, 11 community health volunteers, and health facility workers in Butula Sub-County. Systematic random sampling for participants and purposive sampling for key informants were used. A questionnaire collected the data that was analysed using frequency and percentages and logistic regression. Results Around seventy percent of caregivers reported seeking care for a child's fever within 24 hours. Individual factors that caregivers reported to influence appropriate health-seeking HSB were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.217 – 0.593, p = 0.018), self-medication preference (aOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.054 – 0.363, p < 0.001), had atleast two children (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.425 – 0.937, p = 0.042), and confidence in identifying fever (aOR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.200 – 22.439, p = 0.001). Health-system factors reported to influence HSBs were facility too far (aOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.526 – 0.914, p = 0.027), getting health education (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.201-4.122, p=0.015), and facility level (aOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.015 – 9.750, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings found health system factors related to HSB as stockouts, facility distance, and staff workload. Conclusions Employment, multiple children, preferences to self-medicate, confidence in fever identification, facility level, distance to facility, and education are ky factors affecting caregiver’s HSB. Policy and practice efforts should focus on these significant individual and health system determinants for HSBs among caregivers of children under five with febrile illness.https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-143/v2Febrile illness Health-seeking Behaviors Children Under-Five Years Individual-Level Factors Fever.eng
spellingShingle Jean L. Kananura
Betsy C.Rono
Kamija S.Phiri
The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Open Research Europe
Febrile illness
Health-seeking Behaviors
Children Under-Five Years
Individual-Level Factors
Fever.
eng
title The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_short The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_sort the proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under five years in butula sub county busia county kenya version 2 peer review 2 approved 1 approved with reservations
topic Febrile illness
Health-seeking Behaviors
Children Under-Five Years
Individual-Level Factors
Fever.
eng
url https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-143/v2
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