A SURVEY ON THE TREATMENTS PATTERN AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL POPULATION AT BAGAT UNION MADHUKHALI THANA, FARIDPUR DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

RESEARCH ARTICLE Obydulla et.al / IJIPSR / 4 (10), 2016, 1045-1052
Department of Pharmacy ISSN (online) 2347-2154
DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
Available online: www.ijipsr.com October Issue 1045
A SURVEY ON THE TREATMENTS PATTERN AND HEALTH
SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL POPULATION AT BAGAT
UNION MADHUKHALI THANA, FARIDPUR DISTRICT,
BANGLADESH
1
Obydulla, 1
S.Sultana, 1
Md.Shohag Hosen, 1
Md.Abu Huraira, 1
Md.Shamol Mia
1
Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, BANGLADESH
Corresponding Author:
Obydulla
Dept. of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University,
Subhanbagh, Dhaka, BANGLADESH
Email: mamun94@diu.edu.bd
Phone: +8801515663764
International Journal of Innovative
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
www.ijipsr.com
Abstract
Learning about the current treatment pattern and well being looking for conduct is key to give need based human
services conveyance to any populace and to make the medicinal services framework more effective. A
community survey was conducted among randomly selected 102 peoples in the Bagat union under Modhukhali
Upazilla of Faridpur District to determine the prevailing treatment pattern and health seeking behavior in rural
Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interview of the selected respondents. All of the selected
peoples are gave information about their medication system of his or her family members during the preceding
15 days. Selected respondents were asked about their treatment pattern including their type of medication, place
of medication, level of satisfaction, and qualification of physician, dose maintenance and available drug
companies in their area. Allopathic (89%), Allopathic and Herbal (2%) Allopathic and Homeopathy (9%) were
mostly reported. Only 37% people taking their medication from Hospital, mostly from pharmacy shop (61%)
and only 2% from community hospital. Level of satisfaction of patient were good (53%), satisfactory (35%), bad
(12%). 37% of population was taking their medication from MBBS doctor, 37% from quack and 26% from
paramedical who practiced in local pharmacy shop. Among the respondents 64% were irregular and only 36%
were completing their prescribed dose. Prescribed drugs are categorized A, B, C and D category based on their
quality. In this particular area categorized companies drugs were A (37%), B (22%), C (15%) and D (26%) used
by the respondents. This study concluded that it is important to create awareness among the rural people about
medication system and actions should be taken to improve the overall scenario of treatment pattern of rural
Bangladesh.
Keywords: Modhukhali, rural population, treatments pattern, health seeking behavior, quack doctor.

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
INTRODUCTION
Populations choose different manners and methods to treat their diseases. If their treatment
pattern is known it will be easy to provide need based treatment in a rural population. Analyzed
data is essential for this purpose but this data is rarely available. The total population of Bagat
union is 23622 and 187775 in Madhukhali upazila [1, 2] and most of the populations in this area
are farmer. The overall poverty is greater in rural areas of Bangladesh and access to health is care
more difficult, wealth gaps in utilization remain pronounced [3]. The high rate of bleakness cuts
their family spending plan both ways not just they need to spend huge measure of assets on
medicinal mind but on the other hand can't acquire amid this period. One conceivable outcomes
of this could be pushing these families into a zone of perpetual neediness [4]. About 30 per cent
dying patients are unable to get services of qualified physician and about 60 per cent of hoping
mothers fail to receive pre-natal checkup [5]. National economic and social developments depend
a lot on the state of health services . The healthcare status of Bangladesh is similar to the one of
many developing countries .Bangladeshi medical practitioners often operate in relative isolation,
dealing with various health care needs. There is difficulty in Worldwide in retaining specialists in
non-urban areas [6]. In Bagat union public health care system is not developed as there is not
sufficient health facilities. According to Bangladesh National Portal, Madhukhali has 24
community hospital among them Bagat union has only two [1, 7]. In Madhukhali there is only
one government health complex center, 5 private hospitals and there is no meshnonary’s hospital
[7]. In normal illness they often do not take any medicine or do not go to hospital or clinic for
their treatment. In severe cases they go to the village doctor and get medicine. The most ancient
practitioners of traditional medicine in Bangladesh is Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) and
in general are the primary health-care providers to a majority of the rural population [8]. Most of
the population of Bagat union taking their medication from local pharmacy shop and quack
because they live under poverty and they have lack of education and awareness. The people who
provide medicine to rural Population are not well educated with proper pharmacy knowledge.
They dispensed medication to the village population based on their symptoms without
prescription, previous history and pathological reports. A few populations taking their medication
from Thana health complex, clinic and Faridpur sadar hospital. The rural populations suffer more
than the urban population. Because of the modern health institute and hospital are located at the
city area. In bagat community hospital there are only two health workers, community health

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
workers (CHW) are members of a community who are chosen by community members or
organizations to provide basic health and medical care to their community [1,9].
Total physicians in Madhukhali are 47 among them only 5 MBBS doctor, Licentiate of Medical
Faculty (LMF) 10, Unani / ayurbedic 2, homeopathy 30 [7] Population of Bagat union who are
economically stable taking medication from different privet hospital and clinic. Usually they go to
Madhukhali. There are 5 private hospital and clinic and 6 diagnostic centers with 15 doctors.
There are 4 pharmaceutical industries in Faridpur districts and most of the population in Bagat
union taking A category companies drugs and some of the population among them use D category
drug [7].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A face to face study was conducted from 28th
January to 12th
February 2016 in Bagat unions of
the Madhukhali Upazilla of Faridpur District to determine treatment pattern and health seeking
behavior in rural Bangladesh. 102 households were selected using systematic sampling technique.
Spouses of the household heads or any married and unmarried member of the family aged 18-80
years who could give information about the treatment pattern were considered as the respondents.
Verbal information and consent was received from each individual prior to inclusion in the
survey. Assurance had been given that the confidentiality concerning their information would be
maintained strictly. A semi structured pre-tested questionnaire was developed to collect data from
face-to-face interview. The questionnaire solicited information on their illness and medication
system related health seeking behavior of the family.
Data on types of treatment pattern were obtained by asking the respondent about the nature and
order of treatment measures undertaken at home or elsewhere. The respondents were asked about
their age, name, sex, occupation and treatment pattern including their type of medication, place of
medication, satisfaction level, and qualification of physician, dose maintenance and available drug
companies in their area. We also asked about homeopathy and herbal medication with
government and nongovernment community health workers. Secondary data was collected by
studying different journal, article, blog, websites and several books. Obtained data were analyzed
by MS Excel software-2010. Available drugs in study area were categorized by A, B, C, and D
depending on their market demand, quality marketing skill of company and product quality
ranked by Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Index (BPI) [10].
A,B,C,D which represent high quality level, mid-level ,lower level ,very lower level respectively.

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In the conducted survey among the 102 respondents, 34% population were at 20-29 , 24% were
30-39, 17% were 40-49 and 25% were above 50 age (Fig-1). Among these respondents highest
population was found in age range 20-29.
Table 1: Population at different age Limit Fig.1: Percent of Population at different age
Limit.
Table-2 and Fig-2 shows that the respondents were 34% farmer, 30% housewife, 17%
businessmen, 7% service holder and only 12% student.
Table 2: Occupation of the respondents Fig.2: Occupation of the respondents
In study area 89% population of 102 choose allopathy medication system, 9% choose allopathy
and homeopathy medicine and finally 2% population using herbal medicine with allopathic to
treat their diseases .(Fig-3)
Age Population
20-29 35
30-39 25
40-49 17
50+ 25
Occupation Number
Farmer 35
Housewife 31
Business 17
Student 12
Service 7

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
Fig.3: Medication types mostly used by the rural populations
When we asked why you are using homeopathy or herbal medicine instead of allophaty .They
answered that they use homeopathy or herbal medicine either for financial problem or their
diseases which weren’t cured by allophaty medicine. The study shows that 61% population taking
their medication from pharmacy shop 37% from hospital and only 2% from the community
hospital (Fig-4). Major percentage of population was gone for treatment in pharmacy shop
because of availability and cost. Their treatment was done without any MBBS doctor.
Fig.4: Medication Place
37% of population was taking their medication from MBBS doctor, 37% from quack and 26%
from paramedical who practiced in local pharmacy shop. (Fig-5)
Fig.5: Percentages of medication places

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
In rural areas usually we know that most of the populations frequently take their medication from
pharmacies without prescription’s but surprisingly the result shows that 51% patient taking their
medication without prescription including antibiotic, vitamins, antihypertensive, sleeping peel etc.
and 49% patient with prescription prescribed by physician. (Fig-6)
Fig.6: Percentages of prescription use
Available drugs in study area were categorized depending on their market demand, quality of
marketing skill of company and product quality ranked by pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh
(BPI).[10] The result shows that 37% populations using A drug , 22% B, 15% C and 26% D
category drugs (Fig-7)
Fig.7: Drug quality used by respondent
Among 102 respondent 36% population taking their medication regularly as prescribed by the
doctor and 64% population do not complete their dose. Which indicate that only 36% populations
are conscious about taking medication properly (Fig-8).

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
Fig.8: Percentage of population who completed dose
The last question was about their satisfaction level of the service of the medical service provider,
surprisingly 53% claimed their service was good enough although there was a question about
their quality of service and 35% populations were satisfied with their service on the other hand
only 12% populations reported their service was bad (Fig-9).
Fig.9: Satisfaction level of Patients
There are so many medication errors in the treatment system of rural population. Sometime they
took antibiotic to treat diseases even they have no common knowledge about antibiotics; they also
take antibiotic in simple fever or pain and don’t complete the dosages. Among them who are
financially sound they went to directly the sadar or other public and private hospital.
CONCLUSION
Bangladesh is a densely populated country and most of the population lives under poverty level.
In the survey area due to their economical hindrance they cannot get highly facilitated medical
service. Majority of the population goes to Quack doctor, a few get their treatment from
government hospital. They have not enough knowledge about medication system. The
government should increase the facilities of the hospital and established hospital pharmacy in
rural area. So that population can get proper treatment with medical consultancy. NGOs and other
organization should come forward in this regard. However, this study was done in a small scale.
To get the real picture further large scale study is necessary.

DOI: 10.21276/IJIPSR.2016.04.10.489
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Bagat Union Parishad office, Madhukhali, Faridpur and Babukhali
Aftab Uddin High School, Mohammadpur, Magura for their kind help during Survey.
REFERENCES
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Rahman, M. Hossain, and B. Sen (eds.). 1987; 1994.
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bangladesh.html
7. District Statistics 2011,Bangladesh Bureau Of Statistics (Bbs) Statistics And Informatics
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9. Community health worker, [cited 2016 Oct 05],Available from :
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10. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Index, 3Q'2011[cited 2016 Sep 10] Available
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A SURVEY ON THE TREATMENTS PATTERN AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL POPULATION AT BAGAT UNION MADHUKHALI THANA, FARIDPUR DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

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A SURVEY ON THE TREATMENTS PATTERN AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF RURAL POPULATION AT BAGAT UNION MADHUKHALI THANA, FARIDPUR DISTRICT, BANGLADESH