Sultana Habibullah, Salahuddin Afsar.
Health seeking behavior of adult patients attending OPDs of public sector hospitals in Karachi.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;52(3):80-3.

Objectives: To determine health seeking behavior pattern and factors associated with it in adult patients attending OPDs of public sector hospitals in Karachi. Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional hospital based survey conducted on 384 adult patients attending OPDs of two major public sector hospitals in Karachi, selected using convenient sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used which included age, gender, language spoken, educational and socio-economic status, beliefs regarding illness, autonomy of the patients, symptoms, duration, severity of the illness and type of care sought. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 15; chi-sq was used at 0.05 alpha level for statistical significance. Results: Out of 384 patients, 53%(202) were from Civil Hospital and 47%(182) from Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Overall, there were 54%(209) males and 46%(175) females with 52% cases (199) 31-60 years old. Almost 94%(361) patients believed that headache, common cold and low grade fever are mild illnesses and do not require treatment whereas 96%(369) perceived hypertension, diabetes mellitus, numbness and fits as a serious illness which required treatment. Doctor was the first preference to seek treatment by 89%(341) with 23%(89) using home remedies and 5%(19) treated the disease themselves. About 52%(198) had free will to select their health care providers. About 84%(322) patients preferred going to public sector hospitals due to its free medicines and laboratory tests while 87%(335) used public sector hospital due to more qualified doctors and 77%(295) due to free medicines. In case of emergency 51%(195) preferred private doctors due to less waiting time from doctors visit to start of treatment. Overall 98%(375) said that they sought appropriate medical care, 1%(4) inappropriate and 1%(5) prompt care for their illness Conclusion: Socio-economic status and health expenditure were two important determinants for health seeking behavior over-riding age, gender and ethnicity. Misconceptions’ regarding illness existed among the patients. Policy message: Government should introduce reforms in health sector especially in health financing, expenditure, and consumer behavior for the benefit of poor people.

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