Danger signs of acute respiratory tract infections in under-five children: awareness among mothers in the urban slums of Hyderabad, its relation to treatment seeking behaviour

Authors

  • Sairam Challa Department of Community Medicine, The Apollo Medical College, Apollo Health City, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
  • Varsha Krosuri Department of Community Medicine, The Apollo Medical College, Apollo Health City, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20185241

Keywords:

Danger signs, ARI, Awareness, Mothers, Pneumonia, Under fives

Abstract

Background: Sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposes to all countries an aim to reduce under-five mortality to 25 per 1000 live births by 2030. Acute respiratory tract infections including pneumonia are the leading cause of death among the children less than five years in India. Identification of severe respiratory infections from non-severe forms necessitates that care-givers, especially mothers are aware of danger signs. An attempt is made to study the awareness of danger signs among the Mothers and see its relation to treatment seeking behaviour.

Methods: Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 344 mothers of under-five children living in the urban slums of Hyderabad.

Results: The awareness of mothers about the danger signs of ARI is poor. Very few knew that fast breathing (11 percent), wheezing (4.7 percent), convulsions (1 percent), lethargy (1 percent) are major danger signs of ARI requiring urgent medical attention. A majority of mothers took the child with ARI to private hospital (42 percent) while few approached Govt. Hospital or dispensary (4.7 percent). Many mothers (77 percent) were aware that vaccination against diseases might protect the children against ARIs. The prevalence of acute respiratory infections among the children in the current study (59.3 percent) is much higher that previous studies elsewhere.

Conclusions: A very high proportion (44 percent) of the mothers were ignorant of any danger sign of ARI. The significant association between awareness and positive health care seeking behaviours, like consulting allopathic doctor or govt. hospital or private hospital establishes the evidence that awareness levels are the prerequisite for the positive health care behaviour.

Author Biography

Sairam Challa, Department of Community Medicine, The Apollo Medical College, Apollo Health City, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Professor

Dept of Community Medicine

The Apollo Medical College

Office Number: 040  23285108

Mobile Phone: +91 9618774603

Contact email : srsairam_c@apolloimsr.edu.in

Apollo Health City

Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad -500033

Telangana State, India

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Published

2018-12-24

How to Cite

Challa, S., & Krosuri, V. (2018). Danger signs of acute respiratory tract infections in under-five children: awareness among mothers in the urban slums of Hyderabad, its relation to treatment seeking behaviour. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(1), 190–196. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20185241

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Section

Original Research Articles