A Study of Morbidity Pattern of Under Fives and Health Seeking Behavior of their Parents in a Coastal Region of Pondicherry, South India

Childhood morbidity and mortality rates are high in India as compared to other Asian countries. These health indicator rates vary between states and are dependent on prevailing sociocultural factors and the health care delivery system; also both have a bearing on the health seeking behavior of community. We studied the morbidity pattern of under-fives, health seeking behavior of their parents.

A cross sectional study was carried out in Peri urban areas of Pondicherry. Systematic random sampling was used for selection of study population. 613 parents of under-five children were interviewed by using a pretested validated questionnaire. Data Entry and Analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.

Most 606(98.9%) of the under-five children experienced at least one or more health problems three months prior to the study, among which 97.6% of the under-five children were taken to health facilities. Out of 97.6% under-five children who visited health facilities only 26% of them were taken within 24 hrs. Majority (80.4%) of the them had respiratory illness followed by fever (53%), Protein Energy Malnutrition (40.9%) and diarrhea (21.1%). About 60% of under- five children were taken to private health facilities and remaining 40% were taken to government health facilities.