Assessing the impact of counseling on the medical seeking behavior of parents/guardians of neonates in urban India

Ahluwalia TP Tej Paul, Indian Council of Medical Research
Ahluwalia IK Indresh Kumari, LRS Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

326 neonates were recruited within 48 hours of birth and followed up at 6 weeks (±15 days) at home.37 neonates (11.3 %) were lost to follow up. Neonatal morbidity was 51.2 %.Out of these 31.7 % did not receive any medical care, which included 14.2 % neonates who presented with at least one Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) danger sign. Among ‘outside the home’ actions , 100 % (15/15) neonates with symptoms of acute diarrhea and 100 % (27/27)for symptoms of upper respiratory infection received modern medicine. Care seeking by unqualified providers 40 %(6/15)for persistent diarrhea and 21 % (4/19) for Lower Respiratory Tract Infection symptoms. Some danger signs like sunken eyes, reduced skin turgor fast breathing, chest indrawing and bulged fontanelle were influenced by ‘local beliefs’ and were considered to be untreatable primarily through modern medicines. However use of traditional/home remedies delayed medical care seeking.