An Exploratory Survey to Identify the Determinants of Health Care Services Utilization by under Five Children in a Selected Village of Jhajjar, Haryana

This mixed method community based study identifies households, primary caregivers, under-five children, demographic factors and health care services characteristics and the pattern of health care services utilization for childhood illness. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in a selected village of Jhajjar district of Haryana from June 2011 to June 2012, in which 1265 households were contacted. Total 340 primary care givers of children suffering from illness currently or during last 2 weeks were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Some primary care givers were randomly selected for in depth interviews. One way ANOVA and the Chi-square test were used to determine the association with selected variables (p<0.05, CI 95%). Qualitative data was transcribed analyzed for content and grouped into thematic categories. Majority of primary care givers were mothers 269 (79.1%), in the age group of 25- 35 years (149, 43.8%) with mean age 28.2±9.9 years (15–70). Majority of sick children 328(96.4%) were between 2 months to 5 years, male (206, 60.6%). Majority of sick children suffered from cold and cough (218, 64.1%) During the current illness majority of PCGS 205(60.3%) had been to the private health care facility to seek the treatment. Significant relationship was found between the private health care facility utilization and the selected variables. Majority primary care givers despite low socio- economic status sought health care services from private sector. It was preferred mainly due to their availability and accessibility even in the evening and night time, faith, quick relief within reasonable amount and good individual attention by them without any loss of daily wages.