Illness burden and use of health services in a rural community, southwestern Ethiopia.

An interview-survey of perceived morbidity in a rural community in south-western Ethiopia was conducted in partial fulfillment of the phased teaching objectives of the under graduate community-based medical education in Jimma. Institute of Health Sciences. Two hundred and seventy household heads were randomly selected to participate in the study, to examine the recall of recent health problems during a two-week period and actions sought for. Of the respondents, 65% reported illness which varied with age and sex. From those reporting illness, 55.4% did not take any action while 30.3% applied to health institutions. Self care and use of traditional healers were reported to be 9.2% and 5.2% respectively. The survey demonstrated a huge burden of perceived morbidity in a rural community for which the sick did nothing much indicating a large amount to unmet needs for the health delivery system, and further study on patterns of illness behaviour.