College of Health Science

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Browsing College of Health Science by Author "Abdisa Gonfa"

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    Determinants of delay in timely treatment seeking for diarrheal diseases among mothers with under-five children in public health facilities of Asella town, Oromia, central Ethiopia: a case - control study
    (2025-05-01) Abdisa Gonfa
    Abstract Background: Early treatment of diarrheal disease reduces morbidity and mortality among under-five children. However, in many low-income countries, mothers and caregivers often fail to seek care promptly or do not seek care at all. Delayed treatment may result in chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, malnutrition, growth retardation, and long-term impairment. Factors such as maternal knowledge, type of diarrhea, and distance to health facilities influence treatment-seeking behavior. This study aimed to identify determinants of delayed treatment seeking for diarrheal disease among under-five children attending public and private health facilities in Asella town, Oromia region, central Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based unmatched case–control study was conducted from October 1 to November 30, 2025, among 324 under-five children (162 cases and 162 controls). Three government and two private health facilities were selected, and the sample size was proportionally allocated to each facility. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Variables with a p-value ≤0.25 in bivariate analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05 with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total 324 participants were included, giving a 100% response rate. Children under 24 months were more likely to experience delayed treatment seeking than those aged ≥24 months (AOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.23–3.99). Living more than 10 km from the nearest health facility increased the likelihood of delayed treatment (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.67–4.27). Children of mothers or caregivers with poor knowledge were also more likely to delay seeking treatment (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.50–4.43). Conclusion and recommendation: Delayed treatment seeking was significantly associated with younger child age, long distance to health facilities, and poor mothers/caregivers knowledge. Strengthening community-based health education and improving access to health services are essential. Targeted interventions for high-risk families are necessary to reduce diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality among under-five children. Keywords: Diarrhea, Ethiopia, treatment delay, under-five