Treatment-seeking behaviour and healthcare utilisation among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in urban Etawah, Uttar Pradesh: a community-based cross-sectional study

Neha Sachan; Arun Kumar; Astha Bhatt

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264246

Authors

Neha Sachan Department of Community Medicine, Maa Vindhyawasini Autonomous State Medical College, Mirzapur, UP, India
Arun Kumar Department of Community Medicine, Maa Vindhyawasini Autonomous State Medical College, Mirzapur, UP, India
Astha Bhatt Department of Paediatrics, Maa Vindhyawasini Autonomous State Medical College, Mirzapur, UP, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264246

Keywords:

Healthcare utilisation, Regular treatment, Regular check-up, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Treatment-seeking behaviour, Urban community

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus requires continuous treatment, follow-up and periodic assessment to reduce the risk of complications. The continuity of care may be influenced by treatment-seeking behaviour and access to appropriate healthcare. Objective: To assess treatment-seeking behaviour and healthcare utilisation among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in urban Etawah, Uttar Pradesh and to identify factors associated with regular treatment and regular check-ups for diabetes.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 patients with known type 2 diabetes mellitus in urban Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. Data were collected using a pretested, predesigned questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise treatment-seeking patterns. Associations were assessed using the chi-square test. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted with no regular diabetes check-up as the dependent variable.

Results: Allopathic treatment was reported by 381 (95.2%) participants. The majority of the study subjects went to government practitioners 52.7% and 47.3% to the private setups. Regular treatment was reported by 305 (76.2%), whereas only 184 (46.0%) reported regular check-ups for diabetes. Regular treatment was significantly associated with education, occupation, family type, socioeconomic status, type of practitioner and source of medicines. Regular check-up was significantly associated with duration of diabetes, duration of treatment, type of practitioner and medicine source. In multivariable analysis, diabetes duration >10 years was associated with higher odds of no regular check-up (AOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.20–4.16), while use of a private practitioner was associated with lower odds (AOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.11–0.40).

Conclusions: Most of the participants reported regular treatment, while less than half reported regular check-ups for diabetes. Longer duration of diabetes and patterns of healthcare utilisation were associated with inadequate follow-up. Strengthening counselling, continuity of care and community-based follow-up may improve diabetes monitoring.

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