HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL ADULTS

Abstract Background: The knowledge of health seeking behavior is pivotal for prevention, treatment, management of disease and promotion of health. Proper understanding of those health seeking behaviors could reduce delay to diagnosis, improve treatment compliance and improve health promotion strategies in a variety of contexts. Objectives: to assess the health seeking behavior among rural adults towards private and public health care facilities in case of selected health problems, to find the association between health seeking behavior and selected demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey was done among 260 rural adults by using self administered rating scale questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. Results: Among the 260 samples 28.8% were having positive health seeking behavior towards government health care facilities. Majority of the sample i.e. 71.2% were having negative health seeking behavior towards government health care facilities. There is a significant association between health seeking behavior and demographic variables such as age, education and family income. Conclusion: Majority of the sample prefers to use private health care facilities during the period of their illness. Awareness to be given to the community people regarding availability of public health care facilities.