Factors Influencing Health Seeking Behaviour of Mothers and Its Effects on Children: A Case Study of Dunkwa-On-Offin and Jachie in Ghana

Abstract

Health seeking behaviour of mothers has over the years been a topic for discussion for government, stakeholders in the health sector and mothers.  Each year, millions of mothers and children die of preventable and treatable conditions – largely in low and middle income countries including Ghana. A woman's decision to seek healthcare is not an isolated event; rather, it is a composite one. The study therefore mainly sought to address the factors that influence health seeking behaviour of mothers and to assess the effects of health seeking behaviour of mothers on the health of mothers and their children in the Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Central Region and Jachie in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches in collecting and analyzing of data. The researchers sampled 111 mothers for the study. The sample size consisted of ninety (90) mothers who were selected using probability sampling technique and Twenty-one (21) mothers and health workers selected using purposive sampling technique. The study showed that, the main factors that influence health seeking behaviour of mothers are socio-demographic factors – educational background, occupation, religious background and place of residence. Other factors including; financial problems, time constrain, negative attitude of health workers towards mothers and availability of alternative sources of treatment prevented mothers from seeking immediate treatment for their children when they are sick. It was found that health seeking behaviour of mothers have effects on children's health. These includes; good health, complication or recurring of health problem of the child, deformity, delay in growth of the child and above all, child mortality. The study recommended that the government, health workers and mothers themselves should all come on board to improve mothers' health seeking behaviour.