Determinants of delay in treatment-seeking for under-five pneumonia among caregivers in public health facilities in waliso town, Ethiopia: an unmatched case-control study.

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is one of the lower respiratory tract infections. It is defined as an infection of the lung tissue. Delayed treatment of pneumonia in under-five children is health care Seeking after 24 h from the recognition sign of pneumonia. Delayed, health seeking for sick children with pneumonia is associated with high morbidity/mortality of under-five children.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the determinants of delay in treatment-seeking for under-five pneumonia among caregivers at public health facilities in Waliso Town, Ethiopia, 2025.

METHODS

A facility based un-matched case- control study among 381(127 case and 254 control) with 1:2 ratios were conducted from December 10, 2024 - February 10, 2025 among under-five children at public health facility in Waliso Town, Ethiopia. Consecutive and systematic sampling technique was employed to select cases and controls respectively. Data were collected by face-to-face interview and entered into Epi info version 7.25 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Factors having p-value < 0.25 in the bivariable analysis was entered into logistic regression model for multivariable analysis. Statistical significance on the final model was declared at p-value < 0.05. Adjusted odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval was used to show strength of association. The results were presented using text, table and graphs.

RESULTS

In this study 378 caregivers (126 cases and 252 controls) were completed the interview giving the response rate of 99.48% and 0.52% non-response rates. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, significant determinants of delay in treatment seeking for under-five pneumonia were home delivery [AOR = 2.38, 95% CI (1.37-4.14)], self-medication [AOR = 2.21, 95% CI (1.23-3.95)], non-use of community health insurance [AOR = 2.36, 95% CI (1.43-3.87)], poor knowledge of child danger sign[AOR = 2.77, 95% CI (1.39-5.5)], not heard child treatment information from media [AOR = 1.71, 95% CI (1.05-2.78)].

CONCLUSION

Home delivery, self-medication, non-use of community health insurance, poor knowledge of child danger sign and not heard child treatment information from media were significantly associated with delay in treatment seeking for under-five pneumonia. Health facility and Health care providers should focus on these determinants, and strengthening early diagnosis and treatment.