BACKGROUND The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), also known as diabetes mellitus, has been on the increase around the world. Governments are investing heavily in providing the much- needed healthcare to assist diabetic persons to manage their conditions and live long quality life. However, there have been concerns regarding the unwillingness of person with diabetes to seek medical attention regularly (Lee, Tong, & Wah, 2016; Bajaj, 2018). According to Bajaj (2018), this is a serious issue due to the nature of diabetes treatment, where patients have to comply with regular treatment. In India, studies conducted in different states revealed unsatisfactory healthcare seeking behaviors (Sawant & Kokiwar, 2017; Bhosale et al., 2017; Kishore et al., 2015). There is a need for a regular physiotherapy to assist diabetes patient manage their blood sugar levels. The compliance with medical treatment is a critical step for ensuring that persons with diabetes mellitus are not only healthy but also productive in the society. Failure to seek health care on a regular basis may lead to serious medical complications associated with the inability to control blood sugar levels. This paper explores the healthcare seeking behaviors among persons with diabetes in Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka, India. Figure 1: The map of Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka State, India, Retrieved from: https: // tools. wmabs.org/ geohack/ geohack. php? pagename = Dakshina_ Kannada¶ms =12.8 7_N _ 74.88 _ E _ type : city_region:IN-KA India is one of the many countries that are keen on availing regular medical services for persons living with diabetes (Rao et al., 2018; Sirari, Patro, Datta, & Lakshmi, 2018). However, it remains unclear whether diabetic persons are seeking medical attention as required. For example, a recent study by Eshwari, Kamath, Rao, and Kamath (2018) revealed how families in Karnataka state in India are using 3% to 21% of their income on inpatient and outpatient services. Studies revealed that the healthcare seeking behaviors among patients from Iran (Basity & Iravani, 2014), Uganda (Hjelm & Atwine, 2011), and Philippines (Perry & Espinosa, 2017) were inuenced by their economic status and social factors. In contrast, the studies on Malaysia (Low et al., 2016), and Nepal (Thapa et al., 2018) showed satisfactory healthcare seeking behaviors. This shows the commitment at the government level to facilitate and encourage healthcare seeking behavior. For example, Inche Zainal et al. (2014) noted how distance from the healthcare facility, support from family members, and the duration of the disease inuenced the healthcare seeking behavior among Nepali patients. These ndings show the specic areas that can be manipulated to inuence healthcare seeking behaviors. Methods Design This study employed a qualitative method by focusing on diabetic persons in Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka. Specically, a qualitative descriptive study facilitated the collection and analysis of data on health care seeking behaviors among diabetic individuals. The used of interview approach helped in gaining deep insights regarding the reasons that for health care seeking behaviors. Participants As part of the study, 14 persons with diabetes were in interviewed. These participants were identied using the snowball sampling method. The idea was to use the social connections of the locals and ask around about individuals known to have diabetes mellitus. HEALTH-CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG PERSONS WITH DIABETES IN DAKSHINA KANNADA: AN INTERVIEW STUDY Original Research Paper Sandesh K. S Research Scholar, Institute Of Development Studies, University Of Mysore. X 7GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS Epidemiology Background: Seeking health care is crucial for assisting persons with diabetes mellitus to manage their blood sugar levels. The aim of this study was to explore health care seeking behavior among persons with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada District and the factors inuencing such behaviors. Methods: A qualitative research method was applied to explore the health care seeking behaviors among 14 individuals (8 females and 6 females) with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada. A snowball sampling technique helped in identifying willing participants aged 18 years and above. Results: The ndings showed that diabetic persons in the district seek medical attention in public hospitals. However, the ndings revealed unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors among the majority of the patients. The majority of the interviewees admitted not seeking regular medical attention to various reasons. The main reason for poor health care seeking behaviors is nancial constraints, where the interviewees expressed their unwillingness to use the limited family resources. Other reasons include lack of family support and distance to health care facilities. Conclusion: In brief, the health seeking behaviors among persons with diabetes mellitus in Dakshina Kannada is similar to the rest of India and other developing nations. The unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors is linked to the socio-economic situation such as income, level of poverty, and family support. Therefore, addressing these factors will signicantly improve the health care seeking behaviors among diabetic persons in future. ABSTRACT KEYWORDS : Diabetes Mellitus, Health Care Seeking Behaviors, Compliance, Financial Constraints Dr. Mangala S. M* Institute Of Development Studies, University Of Mysore. *Corresponding Author VOLUME-8, ISSUE-11, NOVEMBER-2019 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra 8 X GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS The Inclusion Criteria As part of the selection process, three inclusion criteria were used. First, only individuals with diabetes were selected. Second, only individuals who have lived in Dakshina Kannada District for more than year were included. The aim of this criterion was to exclude non-local persons. Third, the age limit was 18 years and above with the aim of excluding minors. Lastly, persons with any form of psychiatric disorders were excluded. Since such individuals' ability to make the right or informed decisions may be compromised, it was necessary to exclude them. Doing so helped in ensuring the credibility of the study. Ethical Considerations The researcher strictly observed the ethical code of conduct when handling interviewees as well as their information. For example, this study is based on voluntary participation. Therefore, participants agreed in writing or orally to participate before proceeding. Also, the protection of participants' information was achieved by using anonymous identication rather than real names. Data Collection The data collection took place within a one-month period. Semi-structured interview questions were used to collect the data from using the local Kannada language. As part of the interview, open-ended questions were used. This gave the interviewees the much-needed freedom to express themselves and give their reasons. Once collected, the data, which was audio-recorded, was transcribed to facilitate the qualitative analysis. Findings The ndings show that respondents were seeking health care in both private and public hospitals. However, the health care seeking behaviors was unsatisfactory for most of the respondents. The ndings show that the majority of the interviewees have unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors. Specically, only two out of 14 admitted seeking regular medical checkups. Most of the interviewees also admitted not checking their blood sugar levels on a regular basis. As Table 1 shows, nancial constraints are the main challenge facing persons with T2D in the district. According to them, they have more pressing issues in their families that need to be addressed. This explains why their health is not a priority. Apart from nancial constraints, distance to healthcare facilities was also a challenge. Family support is also an important factor since those with satisfactory health care seeking behaviors admitted having supportive families. The support is either nancial or moral support. VOLUME-8, ISSUE-11, NOVEMBER-2019 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra Table 1: The summary ndings Interviewee Finding 1 Finding 2 Summary 1 Financial constraints I try my best Moderately satisfactory 2 Financial constraints Health not a priority, my family rst Unsatisfactory 3 Financial constraints, other family needs come rst The facilities is far Unsatisfactory 4 Financial constraints The medical center is far Unsatisfactory 5 Supporting relatives Availability of funds Moderately satisfactory 6 Financial constraints Relatives are not supportive Unsatisfactory 7 The facilities are far Financial constraints inuence healthcare seeking behaviors negatively Unsatisfactory 8 Financial support is there The hospital is close Satisfactorily 9 Supportive relatives I can afford regular healthcare Satisfactory 10 Financial constraints other family needs come rst Health not a priority Unsatisfactory 11 The hospital is far health is not a priority Unsatisfactory 12 Financial constraints other family needs come rst Distance Unsatisfactory 13 Financial constraints Distance Unsatisfactory 14 Supportive relatives I understand the importance of seeking health care Satisfactory DISCUSSION The ndings provide crucial district-specic insights regarding health care seeking behaviors in Dakshina Kannada District. The unsatisfactory health care seeking behaviors reported in this study is similar to the ndings in other parts of India that show unsatisfactory healthcare seeking behaviors (Sawant & Kokiwar, 2017; Bhosale et al., 2017; Kishore et al., 2015). Although the patients were eager to seek medical attention, they admitted that their socio- economic factors hindered them from seeking regular medical attention. For example, an interviewee lamented that he was not willing to spend the limited family resources to get medical care since it will push his family to poverty. This reects the ndings by Sawant and Kokiwar (2017) and Bhosale et al. (2017) and Kishore et al. (2015) on how diabetic persons react to socio- economic factors. Instead of diminishing the limited family nances, they are more than willing to sacrice their health by not taking medicine, or conducting the much-needed checkups. CONCLUSION In summary, the current study provides crucial insights regarding healthcare seeking behaviors among patients living with T2D. First, it is evident that the health care seeking behaviors in Dakshina Kannada District is unsatisfactory. This outcome shows the urgency in which the problem should be addressed to help persons with T2D in the district. Second, the ndings provide the much-needed evidence regarding the specic factors inuencing the health care seeking behaviors. Just like in other parts of the world, socio-economic factors are the main reasons. Evidently, issues to do with poverty, accessibility to health care services, and social networks are common variables that inuence such behaviors. REFERENCES 1. Bajaj, S. (2018). RSSDI clinical practice recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus 2017. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries,, 1-115. 2. Basity, S., & Iravani, M. R. (2014). 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X 9GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS VOLUME-8, ISSUE-11, NOVEMBER-2019 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra