Social Outcomes of Alternative Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour Among Persons Living with Diabetes in Rongo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Diabetes burden manifests in social outcomes, with Kenya having the second highest global mortality rate (88.4%), attributable to the inadequacies of mitigation measures. Despite diabetes being manageable, there are concerns about client compliance with biomedical healthcare-seeking behaviour (HSB), which is scientifically recommended, with cases of shifting, combining HSB, or defaulting. This study sought to determine the social outcomes of alternative HSB among persons living with diabetes in Rongo Sub-County. Methods: This study adopted the Health Belief Model and a convergent mixedmethod approach with a descriptive-exploratory design. Yamane’s formula was used to sample 257 respondents from a target population of 718 persons living with diabetes in Rongo Sub-County using proportionate and simple random sampling. Six healthcare workers from the purposively sampled health facilities were interviewed. Questionnaires and interview schedules were tested to obtain a validity and reliability index of .83 and .87 respectively. Results: Pearson’s correlation revealed a statistically significant and strong positive relationship between social outcomes and alternative HSB (.60, p =.00). The thematically analysed data revealed that perceptions, experiences, and beliefs influenced alternative HSB, thus impacting social outcomes. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is a strong positive relationship between social outcomes and seeking ethno-medicine (alternative HSB) among persons living with diabetes in the study area. Therefore, there is a need for a well-outlined framework for collaboration between biomedical and alternative healthcare practitioners.