Qualitative study on care seeking and service provider factors related to potentially serious illness in early infancy and later infancy/early childhood

Background

Infant and neonatal mortality rates are regarded as important indicators of country’s socioeconomic development and health status of its population. This qualitative study aims to understand the key actionable drivers influencing timely receipt of appropriate care for potentially life threatening illness in young infants and older infants or young children.

Objectives

General objective

This study aimed to understand the key actionable drivers influencing the timely receipt of appropriate care for potentially life threating illnesses during early infancy and older infancy or early childhood.

Specific objectives

• To explore the current care-seeking behavior for children with potentially life- threatening illnesses.
• To identify key barriers for timely and appropriate care seeking for children with potentially life-threatening illnesses.
• To identify enablers for timely and appropriate care seeking for children with potentially life-threatening illnesses.
• To create an input to develop appropriate strategy for improving coverage for timely and appropriate care for life-threatening illness at all levels.

Methodology

This study used qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews (IDs), focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) for data collection to explore both mother’s (demand side) and health service provider’s (supply side) perspectives in relation to care practices and management of potentially serious illness in early and late infancy.