Does Maternal Danger-Sign Literacy Independently Predict Timely Formal Care for Childhood Illnesses? A Cross-Sectional Study from Larkana, Pakistan
Maternal Literacy and Timely Child Illness Care
Keywords:
Maternal literacy, danger signs, timely care, child illness, delay model, Pakistan, delaysAbstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Childhood illness remains a leading cause of under-five mortality in Pakistan, especially in underserved districts like Larkana. Delays in recognizing danger signs and seeking timely formal care can be fatal. This study examines whether maternal literacy of danger signs of childhood illness independently predicts timely formal healthcare-seeking behavior.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021 across five major hospitals in Larkana, Pakistan. A total of 390 mothers of under-five children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographics, knowledge of WHO-recognized childhood danger signs, and care-seeking practices. Timely formal care was defined as care sought from a trained provider within 24 hours of illness onset. Logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between maternal literacy and timely care, adjusting for distance, income, and education.
Results
Only 34.1% of mothers correctly identified at least 3 out of 5 key danger signs. Timely care-seeking was reported in 42.5% of cases. Mothers with high danger-sign literacy had significantly higher odds of timely care-seeking (aOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.44–3.57; p<0.001), independent of maternal education or household income.
Conclusions
Maternal literacy of danger signs is a strong, independent predictor of timely formal care for child illness. Integrating danger-sign training into maternal health programs could directly address Delay 1 in care-seeking and reduce child mortality in high-risk settings.
Keywords
Maternal literacy, danger signs, timely care, child illness, delay model, Pakistan
References
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