Health Seeking Behaviour of Parents for Children with Pneumonia

Abstract

Introduction: Health knowledge seeking behaviour is increasing throughout the world. Our study is
trying to fi nd out this attitude among parents of children with pneumonia.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyse all admitted children with pneumonia at
Dhulikhel Hospital from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007. “Duration of illness at home prior to
hospital presentation†was taken as the index of health seeking behaviour of the parents.
Results: The mean duration of illness prior to hospital presentation for males and females were 4.40
days and 4.16 days respectively (P>0.05). Children who had been hospitalised in the past had a mean
of 4.93 days; those never hospitalised before had 4.08 days (P>0.05). Children from Bhaktapur and
Kathmandu were brought to the hospital the earliest. Younger children were brought to the hospital
sooner; children less than fi ve years were brought earlier, particularly infants.
Conclusions: Health seeking behaviour of the parents is affected by age of the children and
geographical location. However, previous hospitalisation of the child and their gender do not affect
health seeking behaviour of the parents.
Key Words: children, health seeking behaviour, paediatrics