A survey of perceived morbidity was carried out in rural population in eight villages and four wards of Saoner town, covering a total population of 8,876. The nature of illness was assessed by weekly visits to the families. History regarding treatment taken for disease and its source was taken. The overall incidence of perceived morbidity was 176.35 spells of sickness per 1000 population per month. Health care agency was contacted for 36.7 per cent spells of sickness. Utilisation of health services was found to be affected significantly by factors like age (chi 2 = 138.36), literacy (chi 2 = 14.123), type of occupation (chi 2 = 433.74), nature of illness (chi 2 = 83.578) and accessibility of health services. A health behaviour model of the population has also been discussed in this paper.
PIP: A study of perceived morbidity was carried out among a total population of 8876 persons in 8 rural villages and 4 wards of Saoner town, Nagpur. Occurrences of illness and source of treatment if any were assessed by weekly visits of paramedical workers. 1240 families were each surveyed at least 4 times in 1 month over a 1 year period. 1447 spells of sickness were reported, or 176.7 spells per 1000 population per month. Information on utilization of health services was obtained for 1441, of which care from a health agency was sought in 529 cases, or 36.7%. Utilization of health services was found to be affected significantly by age, education, type of occupation, literacy, seriousness of illness, and accessibility of services. A conceptual model of the health behavior of the population, which shows the relationship between perceived morbidity, predisposing and enabling factors and utilization of health care, is described and discussed.