title: Intra-household differences in health seeking behaviour for orphans and non-orphans in an NGO-supported and non-supported sub-county of Luwero, Uganda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparing healthcare dynamics among orphans and non-orphans in an NGO supported and a non-supported sub-county so as to identify the level of equity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional unmatched case-control research. A sample of 98 orphans and 98 non-orphans in an NGO supported sub-county and a similar number in a control sub-county participated. For each child, a corresponding caregiver participated. Each respondent was interviewed. Analysis was comparative. Relationships between variables were ascertained using a X(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fevers were the most common health problem. However, 14.3% of children reported an experience of diarrhoea in an NGO-supported sub-county as opposed to 85.7% in the control sub-county (p = 0.014). Twenty percent of children in the NGO supported sub-county reported skin infections compared to 80% in the control sub-county [p= 0.008]. When orphans fell sick, more caregivers in the supported sub-county consulted village clinics compared to self herbal-medication (p = 0.009). Majority of orphan caregivers compared to those for non-orphans in the control sub-county took their children to village clinics as opposed to health centres (p = 0.002). In the control sub-county, fewer caregivers responded to children's illness by buying medicines from drug-shops as opposed to taking them to village clinics [(p = 0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were some differences between orphans and non-orphans within each sub-county and between orphans in the two sub-counties. NGO support is critical in cultivating equity, compassion and non-discrimination. The extended family system in Africa was managing orphan care although it displayed cracks in support systems.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala. wmuhwezi@med.mak.ac.ug
authors: Wilson Winstons
authors: WW
authors: Muhwezi
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Muhangi
authors: Firminus
authors: F
authors: Mugumya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019372:Orphanages; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies; D055815:Young Adult