Nitation and overall lower SES rendered the residents of this district vulnerable to morbidity and poor healthcare-seeking.PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125865 May 12,15 /Perceived Morbidity and Healthcare-Seeking Pattern in Maldah, IndiaMore than half (55.91 ) of the participants suffered from some recent morbidity while respiratory, ICG-001 site gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal diseases were most common. This observed burden of self-perceived morbidity was considerably higher than previously reported values (ranged between 27 and 48 ) in similar settings.[26?9] Studies conducted in other parts of the globe,[26?8] also indicated that respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal ailments were perceived commonly.[26,28,30,31] Probably the chronic and disturbing symptoms of these slowly progressive ailments resulted in more attention. Cardio-vascular diseases were generally reported less as we observed.[26] Burden of reported NCDs was marginally higher than communicable diseases. More than half of the ailments were treated by non-qualified practitioners, which raised a few concerns. Only about 13 visited qualified physicians from Govt. sector. The scenario seemed similar to that of other parts of India, Vietnam and Bangladesh [26,28,32] but a bit different from Afghanistan and Nepal where majority visited Govt. doctors.[33,34] Easy availability, less fees and better responsiveness were probably in favor of visiting non-qualified practitioners. Alike other settings, among (-)-Blebbistatin chemical information subjects visiting non-qualified practitioners, proportion of communicable diseases were higher compared to NCDs while qualified practitioners from private sector treated more NCDs compared to their counterparts from Govt. sector.[35?37] The results probably indicated towards the lack of provision to quality healthcare services from Governmental sector in these areas, leading to increased inequality in healthcare-seeking. The resultant high burden of out-of-pocket healthcare costs disproportionately affected the poorer population compelling them towards healthcare-seeking from non-qualified practitioners. NCDs probably were given more importance due to their persistent symptoms and the community was probably less confident about the ability of non-qualified practitioners regarding treatment of these diseases. Among specific ailments, RTI was perceived to be the commonest, followed by APD, gastroenteritis and skin problem. Contrary to some other study, perceived burden of HTN and DM were found to be relatively lower.[29] May be some of the asymptomatic, mild or currently controlled (on medication) cases were missed. While more than two third subjects considered their ailments as less severe, those who perceived the severity, visited qualified doctors especially in private sector. The perceived severity probably helped them to overcome the potential barriers (may include: cost, transport, availability and waiting time related issues) in better healthcare-seeking.[28,31,34,35,38,39] Corroborating with prior observation in similar settings elsewhere, children and adolescents were less likely to suffer from NCDs like APD, COPD, HTN, DM, anemia and OA but more from RTI, gastroenteritis and skin infection.[27,33,35,36,40] As evidenced in previous studies, elderly subjects were more prone to APD, COPD, HTN, DM, OA, gastroenteritis and RTI while among adults, risk of these diseases increased with age.[26?9,41,42] Similar to some previous observation, females had higher likelih.Nitation and overall lower SES rendered the residents of this district vulnerable to morbidity and poor healthcare-seeking.PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125865 May 12,15 /Perceived Morbidity and Healthcare-Seeking Pattern in Maldah, IndiaMore than half (55.91 ) of the participants suffered from some recent morbidity while respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal diseases were most common. This observed burden of self-perceived morbidity was considerably higher than previously reported values (ranged between 27 and 48 ) in similar settings.[26?9] Studies conducted in other parts of the globe,[26?8] also indicated that respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal ailments were perceived commonly.[26,28,30,31] Probably the chronic and disturbing symptoms of these slowly progressive ailments resulted in more attention. Cardio-vascular diseases were generally reported less as we observed.[26] Burden of reported NCDs was marginally higher than communicable diseases. More than half of the ailments were treated by non-qualified practitioners, which raised a few concerns. Only about 13 visited qualified physicians from Govt. sector. The scenario seemed similar to that of other parts of India, Vietnam and Bangladesh [26,28,32] but a bit different from Afghanistan and Nepal where majority visited Govt. doctors.[33,34] Easy availability, less fees and better responsiveness were probably in favor of visiting non-qualified practitioners. Alike other settings, among subjects visiting non-qualified practitioners, proportion of communicable diseases were higher compared to NCDs while qualified practitioners from private sector treated more NCDs compared to their counterparts from Govt. sector.[35?37] The results probably indicated towards the lack of provision to quality healthcare services from Governmental sector in these areas, leading to increased inequality in healthcare-seeking. The resultant high burden of out-of-pocket healthcare costs disproportionately affected the poorer population compelling them towards healthcare-seeking from non-qualified practitioners. NCDs probably were given more importance due to their persistent symptoms and the community was probably less confident about the ability of non-qualified practitioners regarding treatment of these diseases. Among specific ailments, RTI was perceived to be the commonest, followed by APD, gastroenteritis and skin problem. Contrary to some other study, perceived burden of HTN and DM were found to be relatively lower.[29] May be some of the asymptomatic, mild or currently controlled (on medication) cases were missed. While more than two third subjects considered their ailments as less severe, those who perceived the severity, visited qualified doctors especially in private sector. The perceived severity probably helped them to overcome the potential barriers (may include: cost, transport, availability and waiting time related issues) in better healthcare-seeking.[28,31,34,35,38,39] Corroborating with prior observation in similar settings elsewhere, children and adolescents were less likely to suffer from NCDs like APD, COPD, HTN, DM, anemia and OA but more from RTI, gastroenteritis and skin infection.[27,33,35,36,40] As evidenced in previous studies, elderly subjects were more prone to APD, COPD, HTN, DM, OA, gastroenteritis and RTI while among adults, risk of these diseases increased with age.[26?9,41,42] Similar to some previous observation, females had higher likelih.