Ravish Haradanhalli - MD, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Karnataka, India
Nitu Kumari - MD, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
Ramya Mandya - MD, Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Karnataka, India
Jithin Surendran - MD, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that seeking prompt and appropriate healthcare could reduce child deaths by nearly ۳۰%.  In this background, the present study was conducted to ۱. assess the health services utilization for diarrhoea and ARI (acute respiratory infections) among under-۵ children in South Bengaluru, ۲. determine the factors influencing mothers for utilization of health services. Methods: Authors conducted a cross-sectional study in ۱۰ randomly selected wards of South Bengaluru from July, ۲۰۱۹ to January, ۲۰۲۰ using multistage sampling. ۴۳۲ mothers with under-۵ children were interviewed regarding morbidities of their children in the previous one month and the health services they utilised, using a semi-structured questionnaire derived from multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) by UNICEF. Data were analysed using SPSS ۲۱.۰ for descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: ۹۵ of the participants had illnesses in the past one month; but, only ۴۱ had used health facilities for treatment, mainly in the private sector (۶۸.۳%). The reasons for non-utilization of healthcare services were negligence (۳۶.۹%), long waiting time at the center (۲۲.۴%), financial constraints (۲۰.۴%) and mothers’ jobs (۹.۶%). The most significant factors influencing the health services utilisation were: literacy status of the mother (predisposing factor), low socio-economic status/ BPL (below poverty line) families (enabling factor), and severity of symptoms (need factor). Conclusion: Utilisation of healthcare services for under-five morbidities in the studied population was inadequate. The influencing factors have to be addressed on a priority basis to fulfil the goal of universal health coverage.

Childhood, Factors, Healthcare, Morbidities, Usage