Prevalence and drivers of treatment-seeking behaviour among under-five children experiencing acute respiratory infection in India: Treatment-seeking behaviour among U5 children experiencing acute respiratory infection

Koustav Ghosh; Atreyee Sinha Chakraborty; Banashri Haloi; Sarjoo Patel

doi:10.53730/ijhs.v9n2.15657

Authors

Koustav Ghosh
koustav.ghosh@gipe.ac.in
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, Maharashtra, 411004 India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7085-1885
Atreyee Sinha Chakraborty Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India
Banashri Haloi Public Health Department, Central University of Kerala, Kerala 671316, India
Sarjoo Patel The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat 390002, India

Keywords:

acute respiratory infection, prevalence, treatment-seeking, under-five children, developing countries

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of treatment-seeking behaviour among under-five (U5) children experiencing Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in India. The last two rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), (NFHS-IV, 2015-16 & NFHS-V, 2019-21) data have been used for the study. Bivariate analysis with a chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine the prevalence and determinants of treatment-seeking behaviour among U5 children in India. The prevalence of treatment-seeking behaviour among children in India has decreased from 78% in 2016 to 52% in 2021. The regression model indicated that children from rural areas (AOR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72-0.97), EAG states (AOR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.99), and households reporting transportation as a barrier (AOR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.75-0.97) had lower odds of seeking treatment compared to their counterparts. Conversely, treatment-seeking behaviour was more likely among households headed by women (AOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.15-1.51), mass media exposure (AOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06-1.43), and those in the higher wealth categories. The current study recommends that public health programs should focus on highlighted indicators to improve treatment-seeking behaviour among children, which can help to reduce child morbidity and mortality due to ARI in India.

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