A Population Based Study on the Health Seeking Behaviour among the Fishermen Community for their Illness in Ennore Creek

Background/Objectives: This work reports the health seeking behaviour for their recent illness among the fishermen community and the factors influencing their health seeking behaviour.

Methods and Analysis: This study was conducted among the fishing community in Ennore Creek which is located at the fringe area of North Chennai of Thiruvallur District, Tamilnadu. The study population included individuals with illness who are living in the nine fishing wards of Ennore Creek for the last six months. The cluster sampling method was adopted and 30 clusters were randomly selected by the probability proportionate to size (PPS) method. The structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding background characteristics, details on illness in the last six months and details on their health seeking behaviour. Data entry and analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 software. Descriptive statistics were calculated for background variables, types of illness and their health seeking behaviour. Association between the factors and the health seeking behaviour was analysed by test of proportions and chi -square test was used as a statistical test of significance. Findings: A total of 780 individuals were enrolled in the study. They were selected based on the history of at least one illness during the last six months. Among the subjects who had reported to have had illness in the last six months 696(89.2% with 95% CI from 87% - 91.4%) of them sought care while 84(10.8% with 95% CI from 8% - 12.4%) of the study subjects did not seek care. Age, gender, educational status, marital status, duration of illness, perceived severity of the illness, restriction in regular activity and loss of working days / wages had an influence while standard of living did not have an influence on the health seeking behaviour of the community. The reasons stated by the subjects for not seeking care for their illness were family reasons 78 (92.9%), economic reasons 75 (89.3%), cultural reasons 5 (6%) and other reasons 73 (86.9%).

Application/Improvements: The outcome of this study emphasizes the understanding of the health seeking behaviour of the fishing community which is primarily important for effective utilization of the healthcare services and ultimately to render national programs and policies successful.