DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH CARE UTILISATION FOR DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN GHANA

ABSTRACT 

Background 

Diarrhoea in children under five years has become a major public health concern worldwide. It is possible that diarrhoea will remain a leading cause of child mortality worldwide in the future. World Health Organisation has indicated that children under five years are vulnerable to diarrhoeal disease especially Sub-Saharan Africa, it is therefore important for a study to be conducted to examine factors influencing health care utilisation in children under five years with diarrhoea in Ghana. 

Methods 

The data employed in this study was drawn from Demographic and Health Survey. It was a household-based survey conducted in Ghana by Ghana Statistical Service and the Ghana Health Service. The survey was conducted in 2008 and collected data on demographic and indicators such as fertility, contraceptive prevalence, nutritional status, infant and child mortality and anaemia prevalence. The study population covered all the children under-five years who were part of the 2008 GDHS with a household sample of more than 12,360. Multinomial probit model was used in this study with four health care options: public, private, over-the-counter and no-treatment. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to test for a significant association between socio-economic status and health care utilisation.  

Results 

Mother’s education showed as social factor influencing health care utilisation. Mothers who had middle/JHS and secondary education are more likely (0.580) to use health facility for treatment than those who had primary education. Socio-economic status was found in the study as a factor influencing care utilization. The study also showed that households in the richer and richest socio-economic status prefer to use private health facilities than not to have any treatment at all as compared to the households in the poorest socio-economic status. Toilet facility used by the households also proved as a determinant of health care utilization in children under five with diarrhoea.  

Conclusion  

Improvement in the socio-economic status of the poorest households in the country can help to improve the use of public and private health facilities in order to reduce the mortality of children under five years with diarrhoea in Ghana. Therefore, it is important for the Ministry of Health to take into consideration when planning about children under five in order to reduce child mortality.