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Title:	Help-seeking behaviour and its socio-cultural determinants among men living with hepatitis C in UC Mitho Khoso, Sanghar, Pakistan
Authors:	Pasand Ali (P71777)
Supervisor:	Yew Wong Chin, Dr.
Keywords:	Hepatitis C -- Developing countries Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations Dissertations, Academic -- Malaysia
Issue Date:	11-Jun-2019
Description:	Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a serious health problem affecting about 170 million people worldwide. Pakistan has the second highest global burden of Hep C cases infecting its 6% of general population, majority of them are male dwelling in rural areas. Biomedical and epidemiological researches on Hep C are in abundance but little is known about the illness behaviour of these people in the country. To fill this research gap, the present study attempts to (1) identify the socio-cultural determinants of helpseeking behaviour, (2) explicate informants' illness perceptions about Hep C, and (3) explore their help-seeking behaviour. To achieve these objectives, qualitative research approach was adopted by conducting face-to-face in-depth interviews with thirty purposively selected informants in natural setting of UC Mitho Khoso of district Sanghar of Pakistan. The sample size (n=30) was determined by saturation point. The interviews were recorded and later transcribed verbatim in informants' native language Sindhi. The findings were generated by performing thematic analysis technique on original Sindhi transcripts. The emerging codes, sub-themes, main themes and their matching quotes were translated into English by consulting with the expert translator. Thematic analysis revealed that informant's illness perceptions of Hep C were both true as well as false. To manage and cure the illness, informants sought help from multiple sources: medical as well as non-medical. The structural factors dominated the agency of informants in treatment decision-making. In addition,the socio-cultural determinants of help-seeking for Hep C were community social networks, family support, self-help groups, reinforcing cultural bond, and illness beyond social deviance. Moreover, culture of poverty, social disadvantages, illiteracy, deteriorating public health system, and religion based sectarian factors also determined the help-seeking patterns. The study concludes that socio-cultural determinants and the illness perceptions shape the overall help-seeking behaviour of men living with Hep C in UC Mitho Khoso, Sanghar, Pakistan. The study may be implicated to evolve informed policy making, to carry out evidence-based health care practice, to develop community health education material, and to improve existing health system, so that the epidemic of Hep C may be prevented and controlled.,Ph.D.
Pages:	249
Call Number:	RC848.H425A435 2019 tesis
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan

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