Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Understanding of healthcare utilisation during foodborne illness is vital for public health practice, and healthcare planning. Present study aims to identify patterns and determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour in response to foodborne illness among students of Saudi Arabia. Methods...

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Main Author: Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-10-01
Series:Environmental Health Insights
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302211050761
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spelling doaj-76ecaf7bbf08491daea28151d7923c652021-10-07T21:33:56ZengSAGE PublishingEnvironmental Health Insights1178-63022021-10-011510.1177/11786302211050761Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional StudyMohammed AL-MohaithefBackground: Understanding of healthcare utilisation during foodborne illness is vital for public health practice, and healthcare planning. Present study aims to identify patterns and determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour in response to foodborne illness among students of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 252 students of Saudi Electronic University located in four major cities (Riyadh, Abha, Dammam and Jeddah) of Saudi Arabia. Study participants were students who reported a foodborne illness within 1 month prior to the survey. A multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse association of healthcare-seeking behaviour with knowledge and attitude about food poisoning of participants. Results: Of the 252 participants who experienced foodborne illness symptoms, 69.8% visited doctor for seeking care, while 7.5% visited pharmacy, 9.1% got treated by the family and peers and 13.4% did not do anything. Healthcare-seeking behaviour of participant showed association with knowledge of the cause of food poisoning (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI 1.04-3.78, P  = .036); and attitude of participant that food poisoning illnesses is a serious health problem and may lead to death (AOR: 2.15; 95% CI 1.33-2.71, P  = .014). Conclusions: In this study, majority of the participants used healthcare for treatment during the food poisoning episode, and healthcare-seeking behaviour depended on perceived severity of the disease consequences. Knowledge on food poisoning was found to be an important determinant in utilisation of healthcare services. Health promotion and educational programmes are recommended to further increase the healthcare utilisation for foodborne illness.https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302211050761
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
spellingShingle Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Environmental Health Insights
author_facet Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
author_sort Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
title Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of Healthcare Utilisation for Foodborne Illness Among Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort determinants of healthcare utilisation for foodborne illness among students in saudi arabia: a cross-sectional study
publisher SAGE Publishing
series Environmental Health Insights
issn 1178-6302
publishDate 2021-10-01
description Background: Understanding of healthcare utilisation during foodborne illness is vital for public health practice, and healthcare planning. Present study aims to identify patterns and determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour in response to foodborne illness among students of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 252 students of Saudi Electronic University located in four major cities (Riyadh, Abha, Dammam and Jeddah) of Saudi Arabia. Study participants were students who reported a foodborne illness within 1 month prior to the survey. A multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse association of healthcare-seeking behaviour with knowledge and attitude about food poisoning of participants. Results: Of the 252 participants who experienced foodborne illness symptoms, 69.8% visited doctor for seeking care, while 7.5% visited pharmacy, 9.1% got treated by the family and peers and 13.4% did not do anything. Healthcare-seeking behaviour of participant showed association with knowledge of the cause of food poisoning (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI 1.04-3.78, P  = .036); and attitude of participant that food poisoning illnesses is a serious health problem and may lead to death (AOR: 2.15; 95% CI 1.33-2.71, P  = .014). Conclusions: In this study, majority of the participants used healthcare for treatment during the food poisoning episode, and healthcare-seeking behaviour depended on perceived severity of the disease consequences. Knowledge on food poisoning was found to be an important determinant in utilisation of healthcare services. Health promotion and educational programmes are recommended to further increase the healthcare utilisation for foodborne illness.
url https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302211050761
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