Determinants of Delayed Consultation in Pediatric Dengue: A Cross-Sectional Study in Batangas, Philippines

ABSTRACT Objective: Dengue remains a critical public health concern in the Philippines. Late consultation and delayed presentation of dengue patients to hospitals constantly challenge doctors. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to late consultation of dengue patients. Methodology: This analytic, cross-sectional study examined patient, parental, socioeconomic, cultural, and health system factors influencing delayed consultation among parents of patients 0 - 18 years at Batangas Medical Center and Lipa Medix Medical Center. A total of 668 parents were enrolled. Descriptive statistics and frequency tables summarized the key characteristics. Test of proportions assessed differences between groups. Univariate logistic regression screened possible predictors, followed by multiple logistic regression to identify significant factors. Results: Univariate analysis identified significant predictors of late consultation, including older patient age (p=0.002), residence >50 km from the hospital (p<0.001), and maternal widowed status (p=0.035). Multiple logistic regression showed that for every additional year of patient age, the odds of late consultation increased by 7% (p=0.015). Private hospital patients had 51% lower odds of late consultation than public hospital patients (p=0.03). Parents residing >50 km from the hospital were 2.7 times more likely to consult late (p=0.01). Conclusion: Delayed consultation was influenced by the patient age, hospital type, geographic distance from the hospital, maternal marital status, and cultural beliefs in home remedies and faith healing. Strategies to improve early consultation should consider these factors. KEYWORDS: dengue, pediatric, late consultation, health-seeking behavior, cross-sectional study