Delayed Healthcare Seeking and Associated Factors for Common Childhood Illnesses among Caregivers with Under-Five Children in Southwestern Ethiopia, 2023

Background For under-five children, receiving timely and appropriate medical attention is crucial in preventing serious and fatal complications. Unfortunately, evidence shows that parents of young children frequently delay seeking care, contributing to the death of many kids before they even get to a medical facility. Objectives The study aimed to assess delay in healthcare seeking and associated factors for common childhood illnesses among caregivers with under-five children visiting Yem special woreda public health facilities, 2023. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 333 caregivers of under-five children diagnosed with common childhood illnesses visiting Yem special woreda public health facilities. Systematic random sampling was employed and data collection was carried out using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Delay was characterized as a long time (typically >24 hours) between disease onset and start of the necessary treatment. Data was entered using Epi Data version 4.7 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.0. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors that influence the delay in healthcare seeking. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were used to determine the associations. Statistically significant variables were identified based on a p-value < 0.05. Results A total of 326 caregivers participated in the study with a response rate of 98%. The proportion of delayed health care seeking was 74.5%. Child ≥ 12 months (AOR =1.99, 95% CI: 1.11-3.57), rural residence (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.35-4.28), no community health insurance (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.07-3.42), traditional treatment (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.46- 6.10), and self-medication at home first (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.32-5.63) and perceiving illness as mild (AOR= 2.64, 95% CI: 1.28-5.42) were factors associated with delayed healthcare seeking. Conclusion and recommendation The study showed delay in health care seeking for common childhood illnesses among caregivers was high. Hence, reducing delays necessitates the implementation of public education campaigns, collaboration with local organizations, and the provision of counseling for caregivers regarding childhood illnesses.