| BRIEF REPORT |
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| Year : 2009 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 4 | Page : 175-177 |
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Health seeking behaviours of female manual labourers towards febrile illness in Jos, Nigeria
MA Jamda1, H Agbo2, M Chundung2
1 Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria
2 Department of Community Health, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
M A Jamda
Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja
Nigeria
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Background: Occupation may affect health seeking behaviour. Very little is known about this behaviour in labourers. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour of the female manual labourers to fever in Jos, Nigeria.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 female manual labourers from a randomly selected cluster in Jos, using a pre-tested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Epi info.
Results: Fever episode was reported by 85 percent of respondents during the last one month before the survey. Forty-seven percent 'observed' the fever and hoped for self resolution. Home treatment was reported as the first response to fever by 23% and 49% of the labourers sought treatment for fever within the first 24 hours of onset. Early treatment-seeking pattern was reported among those who self-medicate, followed by those that visited pharmacy stores. Cost was the major reason for delay in seeking timely and appropriate care.
Conclusion: Female manual labourers had poor health seeking behaviour. |
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