D. Higher severity of self-perceived morbidity among elderly was also reported previously. [27] Thus perception of severity also seemed to be driven by awareness and knowledge regarding the ailments. Compared to those aged between 18?0 years, 5?8 years age group were more likely, and older residents were less likely to suffer from communicable diseases than NCDs. Female gender, better familial education and higher SES were negatively associated with risk of communicable diseases. Muslim religion, backward caste, higher individual education and rural residents had higher odds of suffering from communicable diseases. Socio-demographic predictors of Healthcare-seeking behavior in our study were quite similar to those reported from other parts of the world as well as India with some variations. While elderly subjects commonly visited qualified private and govt. sector physicians,[34] older children, adolescents and females were less likely to be treated by qualified physicians.[38,39] Although in our study compared to Hindus, Muslims visited qualified practitioners less often, in Nepal, religion was not associated with healthcare-seeking.[36] Backward castes, subjects with physically demanding jobs [26] and rural residents also had lower odds of being treated by qualified practitioners.[35,36,40] Subjects having higher individual and familial education, [26,28,33,36] access to better quality of drinking water, better sanitary practices and higher SES were more likely to visit qualified private practitioners.[26,28,32,34?6,40,44,45] Thus as a whole it was evident that while healthcare-seeking subjects having weaker socio-demographic and economic position had higher likelihood of visiting non-qualified practitioners whilePLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125865 May 12,17 /Perceived Morbidity and Healthcare-Seeking Pattern in Maldah, Indiaextremes of ages were more often treated by qualified ones. Likelihood of visiting qualified doctors in private sector was positively associated with higher socio-economic position and health consciousness. Subjects suffering from NCDs were more likely to visit qualified practitioners especially the private sector.[37] Alike some prior evidences, patients of APD, OA, gastroenteritis, RTI and skin infections were less likely to be treated by qualified practitioners.[32,44,45] Subjects suffering from COPD, HTN, DM and typhoid had higher likelihood of visiting qualified practitioners. Probably recurrent, Quisinostat price short-lasting ailments were not influential enough to pursue the residents to overcome the barriers of better healthcare-seeking while chronic diseases of incurable get ICG-001 nature were. Self-perceived severity of ailments were positively associated with odds of visiting qualified practitioners more so in private sector and this finding also supported prior evidences. [35,36,40] The perception that more severe diseases were worth paying more attention, time and money and thus visiting qualified doctors especially in the private sector probably was reflected here. Despite efficient sampling design, use of detailed questionnaire and robust analyses, our study had certain limitations. Like any other cross-sectional study, causal interpretation of the observed associations is not recommended. Due to the potential vulnerability to temporal ambiguity by design, some of our observations might have suffered from reverse causation. Although self-perceived morbidity and severity are currently being considered an efficient param.D. Higher severity of self-perceived morbidity among elderly was also reported previously. [27] Thus perception of severity also seemed to be driven by awareness and knowledge regarding the ailments. Compared to those aged between 18?0 years, 5?8 years age group were more likely, and older residents were less likely to suffer from communicable diseases than NCDs. Female gender, better familial education and higher SES were negatively associated with risk of communicable diseases. Muslim religion, backward caste, higher individual education and rural residents had higher odds of suffering from communicable diseases. Socio-demographic predictors of Healthcare-seeking behavior in our study were quite similar to those reported from other parts of the world as well as India with some variations. While elderly subjects commonly visited qualified private and govt. sector physicians,[34] older children, adolescents and females were less likely to be treated by qualified physicians.[38,39] Although in our study compared to Hindus, Muslims visited qualified practitioners less often, in Nepal, religion was not associated with healthcare-seeking.[36] Backward castes, subjects with physically demanding jobs [26] and rural residents also had lower odds of being treated by qualified practitioners.[35,36,40] Subjects having higher individual and familial education, [26,28,33,36] access to better quality of drinking water, better sanitary practices and higher SES were more likely to visit qualified private practitioners.[26,28,32,34?6,40,44,45] Thus as a whole it was evident that while healthcare-seeking subjects having weaker socio-demographic and economic position had higher likelihood of visiting non-qualified practitioners whilePLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125865 May 12,17 /Perceived Morbidity and Healthcare-Seeking Pattern in Maldah, Indiaextremes of ages were more often treated by qualified ones. Likelihood of visiting qualified doctors in private sector was positively associated with higher socio-economic position and health consciousness. Subjects suffering from NCDs were more likely to visit qualified practitioners especially the private sector.[37] Alike some prior evidences, patients of APD, OA, gastroenteritis, RTI and skin infections were less likely to be treated by qualified practitioners.[32,44,45] Subjects suffering from COPD, HTN, DM and typhoid had higher likelihood of visiting qualified practitioners. Probably recurrent, short-lasting ailments were not influential enough to pursue the residents to overcome the barriers of better healthcare-seeking while chronic diseases of incurable nature were. Self-perceived severity of ailments were positively associated with odds of visiting qualified practitioners more so in private sector and this finding also supported prior evidences. [35,36,40] The perception that more severe diseases were worth paying more attention, time and money and thus visiting qualified doctors especially in the private sector probably was reflected here. Despite efficient sampling design, use of detailed questionnaire and robust analyses, our study had certain limitations. Like any other cross-sectional study, causal interpretation of the observed associations is not recommended. Due to the potential vulnerability to temporal ambiguity by design, some of our observations might have suffered from reverse causation. Although self-perceived morbidity and severity are currently being considered an efficient param.