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Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in rural Bangladesh: perceptions and practices.
Med Anthropol. 1994 May; 15(4):377-94.MA

Abstract

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are a major cause of death in children under five in rural Bangladesh. A popular strategy for lowering ARI mortality in such settings includes detecting and managing pneumonia in children at the community level. The success of programs using this approach requires a well-trained community-based cadre of health workers and the appropriate utilization of services provided. Determinants of health care seeking behavior are clearly of interest in this regard. A qualitative study was conducted in Matlab, Bangladesh to describe community perceptions of signs and symptoms of ARI, case management behavior, and constraints to service utilization. Mothers recognized pneumonia and thought it to be caused by "exposure to cold." They were able to identify labored breathing, chest retractions, lethargy, and inability to feed as signs of severe disease needing treatment outside the home. Nevertheless, similar illnesses were sometimes believed to be due to attack by evil influences. In these cases, spiritual healers were sought and allopathic treatment was avoided or delayed. The mothers' observance of purdah and "proper" behavior were reported to play a role in prevention of child death from disease. Implications of this belief and its impact on service utilization are discussed. Suggestions for program managers are made in addition to recommendations for further research.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Stewart MK
Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Parker B
No affiliation info available
Chakraborty J
No affiliation info available
Begum H
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Acute DiseaseAdultAnthropology, CulturalBangladeshChildChild, PreschoolCommunity Health ServicesFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInfantMaleMedicine, TraditionalMothersRespiratory Tract InfectionsRural Health

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

8041236

Citation

Stewart, M K., et al. "Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Rural Bangladesh: Perceptions and Practices." Medical Anthropology, vol. 15, no. 4, 1994, pp. 377-94.
Stewart MK, Parker B, Chakraborty J, et al. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in rural Bangladesh: perceptions and practices. Med Anthropol. 1994;15(4):377-94.
Stewart, M. K., Parker, B., Chakraborty, J., & Begum, H. (1994). Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in rural Bangladesh: perceptions and practices. Medical Anthropology, 15(4), 377-94.
Stewart MK, et al. Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Rural Bangladesh: Perceptions and Practices. Med Anthropol. 1994;15(4):377-94. PubMed PMID: 8041236.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in rural Bangladesh: perceptions and practices. AU - Stewart,M K, AU - Parker,B, AU - Chakraborty,J, AU - Begum,H, PY - 1994/5/1/pubmed PY - 1994/5/1/medline PY - 1994/5/1/entrez KW - Anthropology KW - Anthropology, Cultural KW - Asia KW - Bangladesh KW - Behavior KW - Beliefs KW - Culture KW - Delivery Of Health Care KW - Developing Countries KW - Diseases KW - Focus Groups KW - Health KW - Health Services KW - Infections KW - Interviews KW - Knowledge KW - Medicine KW - Medicine, Traditional KW - Perception KW - Psychological Factors KW - Respiratory Infections KW - Signs And Symptoms KW - Social Sciences KW - Southern Asia KW - Technical Report KW - Treatment SP - 377 EP - 94 JF - Medical anthropology JO - Med Anthropol VL - 15 IS - 4 N2 - Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are a major cause of death in children under five in rural Bangladesh. A popular strategy for lowering ARI mortality in such settings includes detecting and managing pneumonia in children at the community level. The success of programs using this approach requires a well-trained community-based cadre of health workers and the appropriate utilization of services provided. Determinants of health care seeking behavior are clearly of interest in this regard. A qualitative study was conducted in Matlab, Bangladesh to describe community perceptions of signs and symptoms of ARI, case management behavior, and constraints to service utilization. Mothers recognized pneumonia and thought it to be caused by "exposure to cold." They were able to identify labored breathing, chest retractions, lethargy, and inability to feed as signs of severe disease needing treatment outside the home. Nevertheless, similar illnesses were sometimes believed to be due to attack by evil influences. In these cases, spiritual healers were sought and allopathic treatment was avoided or delayed. The mothers' observance of purdah and "proper" behavior were reported to play a role in prevention of child death from disease. Implications of this belief and its impact on service utilization are discussed. Suggestions for program managers are made in addition to recommendations for further research. SN - 0145-9740 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/8041236/Acute_respiratory_infections__ARI__in_rural_Bangladesh:_perceptions_and_practices_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -