TY - JOUR
T1 - Health behaviors and care seeking practices for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia in a rural district of Pakistan
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Das, Jai K.
AU - Siddiqui, Faareha
AU - Padhani, Zahra Ali
AU - Khan, Maryam Hameed
AU - Jabeen, Sultana
AU - Mirani, Mushtaq
AU - Mughal, Shaista
AU - Baloch, Shafaq
AU - Sheikh, Imtiaz
AU - Khatoon, Sana
AU - Muhammad, Khan
AU - Gangwani, Manesh
AU - Nathani, Karim
AU - Salam, Rehana A.
AU - Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Das et al.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Diarrhea and pneumonia are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five, and Pakistan is amongst the countries with the highest burden and low rates of related treatment coverage. We conducted a qualitative study as part of the formative phase to inform the design of the Community Mobilization and Community Incentivization (CoMIC) cluster randomized control trial (NCT03594279) in a rural district of Pakistan. We conducted in-dept interviews and focused group discussions with key stakeholders using a semi-structured study guide. Data underwent rigorous thematic analysis and major themes identified included socio-cultural dynamics, community mobilization and incentives, behavioral patterns and care seeking practices for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia, infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF), immunization, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and access to healthcare. This study highlights shortcomings in knowledge, health practices and health systems. There was to a certain extent awareness of the importance of hygiene, immunization, nutrition, and care-seeking, but the practices were poor due to various reasons. Poverty and lifestyle were considered prime factors for poor health behaviors, while health system inefficiencies added to these as rural facilities lack equipment and supplies, resources, and funding. The community identified that intensive inclusive community engagement and demand creation strategies tied to conditioned short term tangible incentives could help foster behavior change.
AB - Diarrhea and pneumonia are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five, and Pakistan is amongst the countries with the highest burden and low rates of related treatment coverage. We conducted a qualitative study as part of the formative phase to inform the design of the Community Mobilization and Community Incentivization (CoMIC) cluster randomized control trial (NCT03594279) in a rural district of Pakistan. We conducted in-dept interviews and focused group discussions with key stakeholders using a semi-structured study guide. Data underwent rigorous thematic analysis and major themes identified included socio-cultural dynamics, community mobilization and incentives, behavioral patterns and care seeking practices for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia, infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF), immunization, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and access to healthcare. This study highlights shortcomings in knowledge, health practices and health systems. There was to a certain extent awareness of the importance of hygiene, immunization, nutrition, and care-seeking, but the practices were poor due to various reasons. Poverty and lifestyle were considered prime factors for poor health behaviors, while health system inefficiencies added to these as rural facilities lack equipment and supplies, resources, and funding. The community identified that intensive inclusive community engagement and demand creation strategies tied to conditioned short term tangible incentives could help foster behavior change.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159485792&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0285868
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0285868
M3 - Article
C2 - 37192190
AN - SCOPUS:85159485792
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 18
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 5 May
M1 - e0285868
ER -
