A STUDY ON HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF PEOPLE ATTENDING ART CENTRE

1. J R- III, Community Medicine,

2. Lecturer(Statistics), Community Medicine,

3. Lecturer, Community Medicine,

4. Assistant Professor, Community Medicine,

5. Associate Professor, Community Medicine,

6. Prof. & Head, Department of Community Medicine,

M.L.N. Medical College , Allahabad, U.P.

Dr. Richa Mishra1, Dr M.A.Khan2, Dr. Shama Shaikh3, Dr. K.Parveen4, Dr. M.A.Hassan5, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Dwivedi,6

Introduction

• The health seeking behaviour of people living with HIV/AIDS is affected by various stigma and discrimination which discourage them from seeking care.

• Better understanding of these and other barriers to health-seeking behavior could increase the use of services.

• Therefore it is important to study the health seeking behaviour of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Aims & objectives

• To study the health seeking behaviour of people attending ART Centre.

Material and Methods This study was conducted at ART Centre (Antiretroviral Treatment

Centre), Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, M.L.N. Medical College, Allahabad.

STUDY DESIGN:

Cross sectional study.

SAMPLING METHOD:• Purposive sampling,• Two days (Wednesday and Friday) were randomly selected. • 4-5 patients were interviewed randomly on every Wednesday

and Friday during the twelve months study period in 2009-2010.• Total 450 patients were interviewed.

Material and Methods contd…

STUDY SUBJECTS:

The patients coming to ART Centre were study subjects.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

The patients who were ≤ 10 years.

The patients who were not willing to participate in the study.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

The data collected was analyzed using statistical software, SPSS Ver. 16.

Table 1: Socio-demographic Profile

Socio demographic profile Male Female Total

Age (21-40 years) 34.7% 45.4% 80.1%

BackgroundRuralUrban

39.1%9.1%

43.1%8.7%

82.2%17.8%

Literacy StatusIlliterateLiterate

11.1%37.1%

33.6%18.2%

44.7%55.3%

Initial employment status:EmployedUnemployed/housewife

47.1%1.1%

14.9%36.9%

62%38%

Marital StatusMarriedWidow/widower

39.8%4.2%

19.1%32.2%

58.9%36.4%

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre based on their literacy status

Male Female0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

23%

77%

65%

35% Illiterate

Literate

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre based on their initial employment status

Male Female0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Employed

Unemployed

97.7%

2.3%

71.3%

28.7%

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre according to their socioeconomic status (B.G. Prasad

Socio economic classification, I-V)

I II III

IV V68.3%

15.9%

10.8%

3%2%

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre based on their marital status

Single Married Divorced/Separated Widow/Widower0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Male

Female

3.3%

39.8%

19.1%

0.9% 0.5%

32.2%

4.2%

First consulting place/person

Illiterate Literate Total

No % No % No %

Government hospital

145 32.2 156 34.7 301 66.9

Private hospital 38 8.4 81 18.0 119 26.4

Non-registered medical practitioner

11 2.4 7 1.6 18 4.0

Others 7 1.6 5 1.1 12 2.7

Total 201 44.6 249 55.4 450 100.0

Table 2: Distribution of patients based on their choices of first consulting place/person and their literacy status

χ2=12.2, df=3, P<0.05

First consulting place/person

Socio-economic status I, II, III

Socio-economic status IV,V Total

No % No % No %

Government hospital

24 5.5 277 61.5 301 67.0

Private hospital 46 10.2 73 16.2 119 26.4

Non-registered medical practitioner

0 0.0 18 4.0 18 4.0

Others 2 0.4 10 2.2 12 2.6

Total 72 16.1 378 83.9 450 100.0

Table 3: Distribution of patients based on their choices of first consulting place/person and their socio- economic status

χ2= 42.1, df=1, p<0.001

Place of HIV TestTotal

No %

Govt. hospital 347 77.1

Private hospital 103 22.9

Total 450 100.0

Table 4 : Distribution of patients based on their place of HIV Test

Fig : Distribution of patients based on their referral to ART Centre

ICTC (Govt.Hospital)

Private doctors

Non-registered medical practitioner

Others

16 %

72.2%

3.1%8.7%

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre according to drug intake

77.30%

22.70%

Taking drugsNot taking drugs

Fig : Distribution of patients attending ART Centre, based on their visit to second health facility

4

1.84.7

89.6

Govt.Hospital

Private clinic

Traditional health healers/spiritualist

Not visiting any other place

Reason TotalNo %

Treatment/Cure 11 23.4Consultation 22 46.8Treatment & consultation 14 29.8Counseling 0 0.0Prayers 0 0.0Total 47 100.0

Table 5: Distribution of patients according to their reasons for visiting the second health facility:

Conclusion

• It was found that majority of the patients attending the ART Centre were from rural background and belonged to low socio economic status.

• Majority preferred Government health facility for HIV Testing and seeking treatment.

• Majority of the patients were taking drugs from ART Centre and were relieved of their symptoms.

• Those who sought a second health facility were very few in number and majority of them had gone there for consultation.

THANKS