Socioeconomic Status & Health Seeking Behavior of Rural People: A Cross Sectional Study in Fatikchori, Chittagong

The objective of the study was to assess socioeconomic status & health seeking behavior of the selected rural community people. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 221 community people residing in 18 Unions of Fatikchori Upazila. Interviewer assisted survey questionnaire was used. Uni-variate and bi-variate analysis were conducted using SPSS for windows version 20. Of 221 patients’ majority were female (54%). The mean age of participant was 40 ± 11 (SD); around 60 % respondents seek health care from village doctors and nearby local health center. However, one-third number of population (35%) visited formal healthcare providers, such as registered Doctors, Physiotherapists, Dentists and Nurses having government approved professional degrees. The highest number of respondents seeks health care for fever (23%) followed by maternal and child related condition (22%) and pain, paralysis and arthritis related issues (22%). This study identified that number of factors affecting health seeking behavior including socio-demography, knowledge and perception towards healthcare etc. Awareness raising activities, education for health behavior change & pro-people healthcare delivery interventions may be instituted.