Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Caregivers are active members of the healthcare team, and the uniqueness of their role in caring for a sick child is holistic, as no other healthcare team member is consistently aware of all the facets of the child’s life. The integrated school health programme (ISHP) aims to improve acc...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2023-02-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3822 |
| _version_ | 1811161326882390016 |
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| author | Gbotemi B. Babatunde Olagoke Akintola |
| author_facet | Gbotemi B. Babatunde Olagoke Akintola |
| author_sort | Gbotemi B. Babatunde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Caregivers are active members of the healthcare team, and the uniqueness of their role in caring for a sick child is holistic, as no other healthcare team member is consistently aware of all the facets of the child’s life. The integrated school health programme (ISHP) aims to improve access to healthcare services and promote equity for school-going children by delivering comprehensive healthcare services. However, not much attention has been paid to understanding caregivers’ health-seeking experiences within the context of the ISHP.
Aim: This study sought to understand caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for their children participating in the ISHP.
Setting: Three low-resource communities were chosen within the eThekwini District of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.
Methods: This study utilised a qualitative research design. We recruited 17 caregivers using purposive sampling. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Caregivers explored multiple means of care, ranging from managing the children’s health conditions based on previous experiences to visiting traditional healers and administering traditional medicines. Caregivers delayed health seeking due to low literacy levels and financial barriers.
Conclusion: Although ISHP has expanded its coverage and the range of services provided, the study suggests the need to implement interventions focused on providing support to caregivers of sick children within the ISHP context.
Contribution: The findings of the study highlight the need to develop potential schemes to address transportation barriers to accessing healthcare services for school-going children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:12:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1555c66a222d46509f8cf53334e249d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:12:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-1555c66a222d46509f8cf53334e249d22023-03-02T11:51:08ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362023-02-01151e1e810.4102/phcfm.v15i1.38221018Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaGbotemi B. Babatunde0Olagoke Akintola1School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape TownSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape TownBackground: Caregivers are active members of the healthcare team, and the uniqueness of their role in caring for a sick child is holistic, as no other healthcare team member is consistently aware of all the facets of the child’s life. The integrated school health programme (ISHP) aims to improve access to healthcare services and promote equity for school-going children by delivering comprehensive healthcare services. However, not much attention has been paid to understanding caregivers’ health-seeking experiences within the context of the ISHP. Aim: This study sought to understand caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for their children participating in the ISHP. Setting: Three low-resource communities were chosen within the eThekwini District of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Methods: This study utilised a qualitative research design. We recruited 17 caregivers using purposive sampling. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Caregivers explored multiple means of care, ranging from managing the children’s health conditions based on previous experiences to visiting traditional healers and administering traditional medicines. Caregivers delayed health seeking due to low literacy levels and financial barriers. Conclusion: Although ISHP has expanded its coverage and the range of services provided, the study suggests the need to implement interventions focused on providing support to caregivers of sick children within the ISHP context. Contribution: The findings of the study highlight the need to develop potential schemes to address transportation barriers to accessing healthcare services for school-going children.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3822accesscaregiversschool-going childrenschool-based healthcare servicesschool health programmeintegrated school health policylow-resource communitiessouth africa. |
| spellingShingle | Gbotemi B. Babatunde Olagoke Akintola Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine access caregivers school-going children school-based healthcare services school health programme integrated school health policy low-resource communities south africa. |
| title | Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full | Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_short | Caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_sort | caregivers health seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in kwazulu natal south africa |
| topic | access caregivers school-going children school-based healthcare services school health programme integrated school health policy low-resource communities south africa. |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3822 |
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