Health seeking behaviour of children in Togo

Epidemiological and anthropological studies were carried out in Togo on hea lth seeking behavior for under 5 children to determine causes of dysfunctio ns in health services. This article reports on the main findings of the ant hropological study. Anthropological literature on health seeking behavior h as identified labeling and associated explanatory models of illness as impo rtant factors for making choices in the use of health services. This study, carried out among 100 families in Togo on health seeking behavior for unde r-five children, found little difference in the signs and symptoms of illne ss recalled and the health resources used. Different causal explanations si milarly showed little variation in signs and symptoms of illness. The only causal explanation for illness which appeared to correspond to place of rec ourse was related to social causes, where traditional practitioners were mo re often consulted Families explained choices more on the basis of the acce ssibility and quality of health services (geographical and financial access ibility, reception by health personnel, organization of services, drug avai lability) than on the basis of the particular signs and symptoms of the ill ness. Improving the organization and functioning of health services should contribute more to appropriate use of the modem health care sector than int erventions targeting user populations, since the latter appear to be aware of the advantages of modem medicine, but find financial, social and organiz ational features of services unsatisfactory.