Table 2.
Mothers/caregivers previous experiences and actions taken for the sick child, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| Variables | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Previous experience of similar illnesses | ||
| Yes | 38 | 9.0 |
| No | 384 | 91.0 |
| Previous experience of under-five child death | ||
| Yes | 39 | 9.2 |
| No | 55 | 90. 8 |
| If yes, what was the possible cause of death | ||
| Due to illness and after treatment | 17 | 43.6 |
| Due to illness and on treatment | 19 | 48.7 |
| Due to illness and without no any treatment | 3 | 7.7 |
| Possible reasons not to take the child to health facility within 24 h* | ||
| Mild illnesses | 150 | 35.5 |
| Self-Limiting | 149 | 35.3 |
| Lack of time | 25 | 5.9 |
| Shortage of money | 24 | 5.7 |
| Othersa | 26 | 6.16 |
| Action taken within 24 h | ||
| I treat the child at home with safe homemade remedy | 138 | 32.7 |
| I treat the child with available modern medicine at home | 80 | 19.0 |
| I purchase modern medicine from community pharmacy | 76 | 18.0 |
| Others b | 16 | 3.8 |
Note: Others a: - Mothers/caregivers perceived illnesses is due to teething so, waited till the illness gets improved; took to community pharmacy; thought the illnesses is not curable
Others b: - Took to religious place; traditional healers
*Numbers do not sum up to 310 because answers were with multiple responses