Healthcare Seeking Behaviors and Associated Factors among Caregivers of Children with Neglected Tropical Diseases in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Although several studies have explored healthcare-seeking behaviors for common childhood illnesses in Ethiopia, a significant knowledge gap remains concerning neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), particularly in the Amir Nur and Babile districts. Therefore, this study was designed to assess healthcare-seeking behavior and associated factors among caregivers of children with neglected tropical diseases in the Amir Nur and Babile districts, eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 caregivers of children aged from 1 to 18 years old from November 15 to December 30, 2023. Data were collected through questionnaire-based interviewing of caregivers. Stool examination and clinical eye and skin examination were performed by trained laboratory techni­cians, ophthalmic nurses, and public health professionals, respectively. The data were collected using ODK software and then exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 software for analysis. Descrip­tive statistics and logistic regression were utilized to analyze and interpret the data. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value less than 0.05, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Results: The overall proportion of healthcare-seeking behavior was 43.2% (95% CI: 35.0%, 51.0%). Of 148 children, 43.9% had soil-transmitted helminth infections, primarily Ascaris lumbricoides. Additionally, 31.1% were positive for active trachoma, and 25% were diagnosed with scabies. Factors such as being employed (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.08, 7.89), easy accessibility of health information (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.02, 31.5), and average monthly income less than 3,000 birr (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.91) were statistically associated with caregivers’ health care seeking behavior.

Conclusion: Caregivers' health-care-seeking behavior for children with neglected tropical diseases was found to be low, highlighting a critical public health concern. Targeted interventions such as financial support for unemployed and low-income families, community health outreach, and enhanced health information campaigns are urgently needed to address this gap in care-seeking behavior.