PATTERNS OF HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR TODDLERS FROM 2 CONTRASTING SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS - NEW EVIDENCE ON A NEGLECTED TOPIC

Objective. This descriptive study aimed to assess patterns in help-see king behaviour for common childhood symptoms. Method. Clinic attenders aged 9-18 months of two child health clinics on Tyneside, UK, one wit h substantial economic deprivation, were studied. Outcome measures wer e parental reporting of common symptoms, utilization of professional a dvice and general practitioner records of consultations. Results. Chil dren in the affluent area had had fewer general practitioner consultat ions (mean 7.3) than those in the poorer area (mean 15.1; 95% CI for d ifference 4.3-11.4). They were less likely to present with an episode of diarrhoea or cold but were as likely as the poorer group to present with fever. Behaviour problems were reported less frequently (23% ver sus 47%), but if present, this was far more likely to result in help s eeking than in the poorer group (86% versus 33%; P < 0.05). Conclusion s. Variations in help-seeking behaviour between two economically contr asting groups were identified; this has implications for clinical unde rstanding and service provision in primary care.