Health seeking behaviour and incidence of under-five mortality in Agro-Pastoralist Communities In Handeni District, Tanzania
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Date
2019
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
MOCU
Abstract
This paper explores health seeking behaviour and its influence on households’ incidences of under-five
mortality among agro-pastoralists. The study used a cross-sectional research design whereby a
structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 160 agro-pastoralist households. Correlation
analysis results showed existence of an association between cultural values, traditional practices, socioeconomic factors and health seeking behaviour. Logistic regression results showed mother’s age,
number of children in household and masculinity had significant influences on a household’s health
seeking behaviour. Further, the logistic results showed that mother’s age and traditional treatment
attendance had significant influences on household’s experience of under-five mortality. The findings
showed that the variables influenced individual households to seek treatment from traditional rather
than modern health facilities. It is therefore recommended that Health Officials and Community
Development Officers should create awareness and promote health services among agro-pastoralists.
In addition, the Government and other stakeholders are argued to further educate agro-pastoralists and
other rural dwellers to abandon cultural practices and values which contribute to poor health seeking
behaviour and lead to higher households’ incidence of under-five mortality
Description
East African Journal of Social and Applied Sciences (EAJ-SAS) Vol.1, No.2, pg; 58-70
Keywords
Health seeking behaviour, Agro-pastoralists, Under-five children, Mortality, Incidence