Children in rural Nepal: Reasons for seeking medical aid and parental supportive behaviour at last attendance

Less is known about reasons for seeking medical aid for children and parental supportive behaviour in rural Nepal. These are first results from a cross-sectional study in the Amppipal hospital (Gorkha district) which provides health care for about 200.000 inhabitants from the Gorkha, Lamjung and Tanahun district. During that period 101 children aged 0 to 15 years presented there. Data concerning health care provision at the last attendance were available from 90 children averagely aged 4.0 years (56.7% male, 34.4% female children; missing percent = missing data). Reasons for seeking medical aid: 61.1% due to high fever, diarrhoea or cough, 6.7% for immunisation, 31.1% for other reasons. Time after recognising child's illness until care: 92.2% within 24 hours, 1.1% more than 24 hours. Providing fluids during last illness by the mother: 52.2% more than usual, 31.1% less than usual, 6.7% gave nothing to drink. Providing meals during last illness by the mother: 18.9% more than usual, 2.2 about the same, 37.8% less than usual, 23.3 stopped providing food, 1.1% never gave food (exclusively breast feeding). The children presented with typical health problems for that age, mostly with infectious diseases of the gut and respiratory tract accompanied by fever. However, it is discussable whether parents should be better informed about supporting child's reconvalescence by appropriate provision of food and fluid.