Factors affecting mothers’ intentions to visit healthcare facilities before hospitalisation of children with pneumonia in Biliran province, Philippines: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite a substantial reduction in the mortality rate of children under 5 years in the past 25 years, pneumonia remains the single-largest infectious cause of child deaths worldwide. This study explored the chronological order of visited healthcare facilities and practitioners, and the factors affecting mothers’ intention to seek care before the hospitalisation of children with pneumonia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A qualitative research design was employed using theory of planned behaviour as a framework for the analysis. Using purposive sampling technique, 11 mothers, whose children under 5 years old were hospitalised with severe pneumonia, were recruited for individual semi-structured interviews. Their socio-demographic information was analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Mothers brought their sick children to multiple facilities, and 1 to 19 days had passed before hospitalisation. We identified four major factors determining mothers’ intentions: (1) doing something useful for the sick child, (2) expecting the child to receive the necessary assessment and treatment, (3) accepting advice to visit a healthcare facility and be referred to a hospital and (4) considering issues and benefits associated with hospitalisation. Mothers noticed their children’s unusual symptoms and monitored them while applying home remedies. They also took their children to traditional healers despite knowing that the treatments were not necessarily effective. Mothers expected children to be checked by health professionals and listened to advice from family members regarding the facilities to visit, and from healthcare staff to be referred to a hospital. Financial issues and the double burden of housework and caring for the hospitalised child were mothers’ major concerns about hospitalisation. CONCLUSION: Children were hospitalised after several days because they visited multiple healthcare facilities, including traditional healers. Improving care quality at healthcare facilities and reducing financial and mothers’ burden may reduce the hospitalisation delay for children with pneumonia.