Health seeking behavior and associated factors among chronic heart failure Adult clients, Jimma University Specialized Hospital, South west Ethiopia, 2016

Abstract Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition where the heart fails to meet the body’s circulatory demands. Health-seeking behavior is important factors determining the acceptance of health care and outcomes, especially in chronic conditions like heart failure. Objective: To assess health seeking behavior and associated factors among chronic heart failure adult clients admitted to medical and on chronic follow up clinic at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, South west Ethiopia, 2016 Methods: Facility based cross-sectional quantitative study design was conducted with a total of 335 patients admitted to medical ward and or on chronic follow up clinic of Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Consecutive sampling method was used to get the sample. Data was collected using structured questionnaire. The data was entered, into Epi-data manager version 2.0 and data entry client, data was cleared and exported to SPSS 20.0 for further analysis. Variables having p-value less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered into final model for Multivariable analysis. Variables with p<0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered statistically significantly associated with health seeking behavior of Chronic heart failure Result: Out of 335 participants 58.2% of the study participants had poor health seeking behavior. Distance from health facility was significantly associated health seeking behavior. Participants with monthly income of less than 500 ETB where less likely to adhere to good health seeking behavior [AOR (95% CI of OR) = 0.581 (0.35, 0.98)], Poor self care were less likely to adhere to good health seeking behavior at [AOR (95% CI of OR) = 0.191 (0.11, 0.33)] duration heart failure less than one year were more likely to adhere to good health seeking at [AOR (95% CI of OR) = 2.3 (1.12, 4.73) not take their medication as prescribed were more likely to adhere to good health seeking behavior at [AOR (95% CI of OR) = 8.6(1.86, 39.59)]. Conclusion and recommendation: In this study poor health seeking behavior is experienced in more than half of participants. In general factors such as adherence to self care behaviors, attitude, duration of heart failure, income, distance, taking medication and knowledge were significant factors that determine health seeking behavior of individuals. So that nurses and managers on study area should work together on factors that affect patients’ health seeking activities. Key words: Health seeking behavior, chronic heart failure, chronic follow up, Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital.