Health Seeking Behavior of Rural Villagers: Case-study in 3 Villagers in the North-East

Abstract

Background: Health seeking behavior of villagers is a multifactorial process. The proper perception of this behavior and the decision making process get benefit in developing the health system.

Objective:

1. To study health seeking behavior of villagers in treating illness/symtoms starting from onset of episode till recovery or cured.

2. To study decision making process of patients, families and social network in choosing appropriate treatment sources.

Method: Qualitative research.

Setting: Ban Khon Sak, Ban Maungkao-Pattana and Ban Beung Niam, Khon Kaen Province.

Results: The results were found similar among the 3 villages, both treatment seeking behaviors and decision making process. The treatment seeking behaviors were found that treatment pattern of each illness episode was diversity, both sequential single resort and simultaneous resorts. Number of treatment stages were depended on recovery or cured. If the illness was persist, more resorts would be chosen further. There were 8 treatment resorts, i.e. do nothing/self-observation, self-care, self-prescription, traditional healer, “ Yo-Re ” (a kind of religion beliefs), health stations, hospitals and private clinics. Stages of treatment involved these resorts. Decision making process for choosing the resorts was influenced by the trust of treating resort efficacy, serverity of illness, types pf illness, learned experiences, influence of propaganda/advertisement, ownership of health insurance card or health card for the elderly and other health welfare card, treatment fee, health knowledge, and referral system.

Keyword: (1) Health Seeking Behavior (2) Rural villagers