HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF WOMEN & CHILDREN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AMONG THARU ETHNIC COMMUNITY IN TRIYUGA MUNICIPALITY, NEPAL

Background: Under 5yrs mortality rates among male child is 30 and among female is 26 and overall infant mortality rate 24 per thousand respectively; these are the most vulnerable groups to different morbidity and mortality, and they ought to be fully dependent on parental knowledge and awareness to meet their health needs. Health seeking behavior (HSB) has become a tool for understanding the approach of people towards the health care systems in their respective socio-economic, cultural and demographic circumstances. Methods: A Community based descriptive study among “Tharu” ethnic women with children less than ve years of age in Triyuga Municipality, Nepal. Semistructured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information,, knowledge and current practice regarding health seeking behavior, including awareness and accessibility of health services. Results: Among 406 respondents, 388 of their children were reported ill within last 1 year, with fever accounting for 70%, followed by ARI (65%), diarrhea (6%) and others. Where 52.8% of respondents had appropriate HSB, taking their ill children to hospitals. More than 52% of respondents had hospitals as the rst preference for treatment for every morbidity. Except for access to health care facility, there was no signicant association of HSB was seen with parent's literacy,income, gender preference. Conclusion: With satisfactory awareness, literacy, and accessibility of health care centers, the HSB among tharu women, for the children morbidity seemed to be satisfactory in comparison to national scenario and other marginalized groups