Health Seeking Behavior of Char People in Bangladesh: A Study in a Selected Area of Bogra District

Abstract

The char people are living under most at risk condition and have been fighting for sound health. Illness is vital cause of poverty and illiteracy. There is a recognized relationship between health, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Health is the indivisible ingredient of development. Development of health will increase income, ensure the monetary development and reduces poverty to a great extent. Methods: The researcher administered participant observation, in-depth interview and FGD for data collection by using purposive sampling during November 2010 to June 2011. Results: New born and children were affected mostly from communicable illness while the adolescents, adult and aged suffered from non-communicable illness. They were not aware about the stages of illness. Most of the respondents (58%) believed that their suffering was due to natural causes and 10 % of the local people believed that uncleanness and unhygienic practice may result the illness. On the other hand, as to the 20 % people “evil eye” was a most important etiology of above motioned illness and 12% respondents believed that the causes of their suffering were supernatural. People do not have equal access to all sectors of health care such as popular sector, the folk sector and the professional sector. The cyclical issues of an illness episode, culture of poverty, remoteness, lack of professional physician, cost of health care, lack of transport facilities, and lack of knowledge, superstition strongly influenced to take decisions for choosing sectors of health care. They were not capable to take decision in right time because it depends to a large extent on their accesses to livelihood assets in the households and community. The villagers used to prefer modern medical facilities which were inadequate in the village. Conclusion: These findings clearly state that the char people are living under severe vulnerable condition in terms of health care seeking. To improve the health as well as livelihood status of the study people, the authority have to take short term as well as long term initiatives. The findings of the research will help Government and development agencies to take strategic decisions in terms of taking drastic steps especially in resource poor settings where modern facilities are still scarce.