Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study
Objectives This study aims to assess self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours in a rural population of Bangladesh. These factors are crucial for understanding health challenges and designing effective healthcare services in rural areas.Design A cross-sectional survey was con...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086324.full |
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| author | Ashraful Kabir Baki Billah Md Nazmul Karim |
| author_facet | Ashraful Kabir Baki Billah Md Nazmul Karim |
| author_sort | Ashraful Kabir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives This study aims to assess self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours in a rural population of Bangladesh. These factors are crucial for understanding health challenges and designing effective healthcare services in rural areas.Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021.Setting Four randomly selected administrative districts/regions of Bangladesh.Participants A total of 1645 rural participants aged 18 years and older.Outcome measures The study assessed the prevalence of self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours.Results Among the participants, 66% (1084 out of 1645) reported experiencing health complaints, with 80% seeking care and 20% either not seeking care or opting for self-care. Multivariable analysis revealed that participants with formal occupations (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.609; 95% CI 0.396 to 0.938; p=0.025), those from the second (aOR=1.742; 95% CI 1.014 to 2.991; p=0.044) and fifth quintiles (aOR=1.210; 95% CI 0.726 to 2.019; p=0.465), with non-communicable disease (NCD) related complaints (aOR=5.299; 95% CI 3.673 to 7.643; p <0.001), and those living more than 5 km from healthcare facilities (aOR=1.725; 95% CI 1.040 to 2.861; p=0.034), were more likely to seek healthcare. Additionally, participants in the wealthiest quintile (aOR=1.963; 95% CI 1.080 to 3.569; p=0.027), those with non-NCD complaints (aOR=5.299; 95% CI 3.673 to 7.643; p<0.001) and those living further than 5 km (aOR=4.615; 95% CI 3.121 to 6.824; p<0.001), were more likely to seek care from skilled providers or healthcare facilities.Conclusion A high prevalence of self-reported health complaints, particularly related to NCDs, was observed. Despite this, many participants did not seek healthcare, indicating the need to address barriers to healthcare access and improve health-seeking behaviours in rural Bangladesh. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f531e1bb2462430497d8f741329db6bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-f531e1bb2462430497d8f741329db6bf2025-02-09T03:30:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-02-0115210.1136/bmjopen-2024-086324Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional studyAshraful Kabir0Baki Billah1Md Nazmul Karim2Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSPHPM, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSPHPM, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaObjectives This study aims to assess self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours in a rural population of Bangladesh. These factors are crucial for understanding health challenges and designing effective healthcare services in rural areas.Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021.Setting Four randomly selected administrative districts/regions of Bangladesh.Participants A total of 1645 rural participants aged 18 years and older.Outcome measures The study assessed the prevalence of self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours.Results Among the participants, 66% (1084 out of 1645) reported experiencing health complaints, with 80% seeking care and 20% either not seeking care or opting for self-care. Multivariable analysis revealed that participants with formal occupations (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.609; 95% CI 0.396 to 0.938; p=0.025), those from the second (aOR=1.742; 95% CI 1.014 to 2.991; p=0.044) and fifth quintiles (aOR=1.210; 95% CI 0.726 to 2.019; p=0.465), with non-communicable disease (NCD) related complaints (aOR=5.299; 95% CI 3.673 to 7.643; p <0.001), and those living more than 5 km from healthcare facilities (aOR=1.725; 95% CI 1.040 to 2.861; p=0.034), were more likely to seek healthcare. Additionally, participants in the wealthiest quintile (aOR=1.963; 95% CI 1.080 to 3.569; p=0.027), those with non-NCD complaints (aOR=5.299; 95% CI 3.673 to 7.643; p<0.001) and those living further than 5 km (aOR=4.615; 95% CI 3.121 to 6.824; p<0.001), were more likely to seek care from skilled providers or healthcare facilities.Conclusion A high prevalence of self-reported health complaints, particularly related to NCDs, was observed. Despite this, many participants did not seek healthcare, indicating the need to address barriers to healthcare access and improve health-seeking behaviours in rural Bangladesh.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086324.full |
| spellingShingle | Ashraful Kabir Baki Billah Md Nazmul Karim Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study BMJ Open |
| title | Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | self reported health complaints and healthcare seeking behaviour among adult people in rural bangladesh results from a cross sectional study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086324.full |
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