ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, various governments implemented major restrictions to control its transmission. These restrictions included an economic lockdown and restrictions on movement. The aftermath of this had effects such as a reduction in income, panic, and hunger. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including children, women, and the elderly, who are more susceptible to the virus due to their pre-existing health conditions and other factors. More than 7.5 million children die globally each year, partly due to the poor health-seeking behaviour and health beliefs of mothers.
Methodology: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 624 mothers of children under the age of 5 in the Oluku community were selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for this study. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: A higher proportion of respondents (73.2%) were between the ages of 25 and 39, with a mean age of 30.7 ± 6.3 years. Out of the 624 respondents, 79.4% identified as Christians, 27.9% identified as being of Benin ethnicity, 50% had completed secondary education, 77.9% had a particular skill, 81.1% had an average income between ₦30,000 and ₦150,000, and 63.3% belonged to the middle socioeconomic status. Just over a quarter, 26.1% of individuals had harmful health beliefs, while more than 55% exhibited good health-seeking behaviour. Age, religion, level of education, average monthly income, skill level, and socioeconomic status were found to have a statistically significant relationship with the impact of COVID-19 on health beliefs. Meanwhile, marital status, level of education, and socioeconomic status were found to have a statistically significant relationship with the impact of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviour.
Conclusion: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of individuals maintained beneficial health beliefs and exhibited good health-seeking behaviour.
Recommendation: The government should establish educational programs, such as workshops and health talks, to provide ongoing education to mothers of children under the age of 5 about the negative effects of harmful health beliefs. Additionally, primary healthcare services should be made more affordable to encourage more mothers, particularly those in the middle and low socioeconomic status, to seek care. Mothers should seek formal healthcare as their primary point of contact when they are ill.
Keywords: COVID-19, health beliefs, health-seeking behaviour, mothers of children under 5
