Table 1 Health care-seeking behaviors of mothers for common childhood illness at urban and rural residence, Bure district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013

Reported illness

Diarrhea

113(41.3%

234(42.3%)

347(42%)

Fever

103(37.6%)

150(27.1%)

253(30.6%)

ARI

58(21.2%)

169(30.6%)

227(27.4%)

Health care seeking behavior

Home

1(0.4%)

30(5.4%)

31(3.7%)

Traditional healers

2(0.7%)

17(3.1%)

19(2.3%)

HC/Hospital

219(80%)

300(54.3%)

519(62.8%)

Health post

1(0.4%)

104(18.8%)

105(12.7%)

Private

12(4.4%)

20(3.6%)

32(3.9%)

Not seek at all

39(14%)

82(14.8%)

121(14.6%)

Health care seeking behavior at HF

No

42(15.3%)

129(23.3%)

171(20.7%)

Yes

232(84.6%)

424(76.7%)

656(79.3%)

Time of health seeking after onset of the illness

First day

96(41.4%)

80(19%)

176(27%)

Between 1st and 2nd day

85(36.6%)

103(24.3%)

188(28.6%)

Between 3rd and 4th day

43(18.5%)

181(42.7%)

224(34%)

After 4th

8(3.5%)

60(14%)

68(10.4%)

Reasons for not seeking health care

Perceived resolves by itself

37(34%)

64(66%)

97(56.7%)

Lack of money

13(31.7%)

28(68.3%)

41(24%)

Illness was not sever enough

1(3.2%)

30(96.8%)

31(18%)

Did not trust by treatment

2(11.1%)

16(88.9%)

18(10.5%)

Distance of HF

2(22.2%)

7(77.8%)

9(5.3%)