HEALTH-CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG PERSONS WITH DIABETES IN DAKSHINA KANNADA: AN INTERVIEW STUDY

Sandesh K. S, Dr. Mangala S. M

Abstract


Background: Seeking health care is crucial for assisting persons with diabetes mellitus to manage their blood sugar levels. The aim of this study was to explore health care seeking behavior among persons with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada District and the factors influencing such behaviors.

Methods: A qualitative research method was applied to explore the health care seeking behaviors among 14 individuals (8 females and 6 females) with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada. A snowball sampling technique helped in identifying willing participants aged 18 years and above.

Results: The findings showed that diabetic persons in the district seek medical attention in public hospitals. However, the findings revealed unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors among the majority of the patients. The majority of the interviewees admitted not seeking regular medical attention to various reasons. The main reason for poor health care seeking behaviors is financial constraints, where the interviewees expressed their unwillingness to use the limited family resources. Other reasons include lack of family support and distance to health care facilities.

Conclusion: In brief, the health seeking behaviors among persons with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada is similar to the rest of India and other developing nations. The unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors is linked to the socio-economic situation such as income, level of poverty, and family support. Therefore, addressing these factors will significantly improve the health care seeking behaviors among diabetic persons in future.


Keywords


Diabetes Mellitus, health care seeking behaviors, compliance, financial constraints

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