HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES (KAP) STUDY OF THE PEOPLE OF URBAN SLUM AREAS OF KARACHI

Abstract

Objectives: The aims and objectives were, to know about the approach of people towards seeking medical advice with different options of healers, to observe thinking, feeling and various actions of people including level of self medication, and to know perception of people regarding various practices done by the healers. Data Source: People living in urban slum areas of Karachi. Design of Study: Cross sectional Study. Setting: Karachi. Period: July to October 2008. Subjects and Methods: It was Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) study carried out on a sample of 300 permanent household members aged ≥ 16 years of middle and poor class living in urban slum areas of Karachi. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 38.27 with standard deviation of 17.57. 182 (61 %) were male while 118(39 %) were female. Out of 300 study participants (n=300) 260 (86.6 %) consult allopathic healers including 169 (56.33 %) MBBS general practitioners and 91 (30.3 % ) non qualified or quacks,25 (8.3 %) consult homeopaths, 11 ( 3.6 % ) Hakims, and only 4 (1.33 % )consult faith healers (P < 0.05).148 (49.33 %), participants belong to middle class group, while 152 (50.66 % ) were from poor class. 50 % study participants do self medication at home prior to consultation for heath. Conclusions: Health seeking behavior is a complex phenomenon in developing countries like Pakistan where poverty overrides all other factors in decision of selecting a healer. It is recommended that people should be educated in choosing a healer which should be a qualified one.