HEALTH CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN RURAL AURANGABAD: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Due to modernization and advances, health care services are quietly improved but at the same time, health seeing behaviour is altered too. After National Rural Health Mission, Public Health Care system have drastically improved in terms of Infrastructure and health workers. Promotion to other treatment pathies by government as AYUSH made awareness to people to have alternate to have extra options. Even in private sector, specialist services are available at Block level. Handy phones and quick availability of treating health care persons as well as over the counter medicine made people to seek health care need easily. Still morbidity and mortality pattern for some illnesses remain part of concern. Objective: To assess healthcare seeking behaviour among rural population in Aurangabad Materials/Methods:The Cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of GMC Aurangabad. Takinghealth seeking behaviour prevalence as 34.5%, sample size was calculated using Cochranes formula as 376 taking relative error 5% with 10% non-response rate. By systematic random sampling one member from each household interviewed after taking prior consent.Interview was done usingpredesigned questionnaire and data on age,sex, occupation, educational status, treatment seeking approach in illnesses was collected. Data wasanalysed using descriptive statistical methods using MS Excel 365 and SPSS 29 trial version. Results: As seen 74% respondents have inhibitions in discussing health issue with family members and 59% require permission from head of the family to access health care services. Seventy-three percent respondents are aware of nearby health care delivery system, 60% care to approach nearby healthcare system when ill. After becoming ill, twenty-four% gets some medicine from the nearby medical drug store while 20% still approach nearby spiritual healers for treatment. Conclusion:Health issue discussions inhibited by gender, occupation, marital status, and literacy. Treatment choice based on fees for working individuals. Health centre awareness linked to gender and literacy. Marital status and literacy impact healthcare decision-making.