AUTHOR=Koné Siaka , Fink Günther , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Essé Clémence , Utzinger Jürg , N’Goran Eliézer K. , Tanner Marcel , Jaeger Fabienne N. 

TITLE=Determinants of Modern Paediatric Healthcare Seeking in Rural Côte d’Ivoire

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 66 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.1604451

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2021.1604451

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives: To determine factors that influence healthcare seeking among children with fatal and non-fatal health problem.
Methods: Caregivers of children with a recent non-fatal illness episode residing in south-central Côte d’Ivoire were interviewed using a social autopsy questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and logistic models were employed to identify key determinants of modern healthcare use.
Results: Overall, 736 non-fatal and 82 fatal cases were assessed. Modern healthcare was sought for 63.9% of non-fatal and 76.8% of fatal cases, respectively. In non-fatal cases, young age, caregiver being a parent, secondary or higher education, living <5 km from a health facility, and clinical signs (i.e., fever, severe vomiting, inability to drink, convulsion, and inability to play) were positively associated with modern healthcare seeking. In fatal cases, only lower respiratory infection was positively associated with modern healthcare seeking. A lack of awareness regarding clinical danger signs was identified in both groups. 
Conclusion: Interventions promoting prompt healthcare seeking and the recognition of danger signs may help improve treatment seeking in rural settings of Côte d’Ivoire and can potentially help further reduce under-five mortality.