Treatment of childhood Diarrhoea : What mothers do

Abstract

Igbo mothers residing in Enugu Urban were interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire to find out what treatments were given during episodes of diarrhoea in their five year olds. Use of home remedies was first-line treatment. Ninety-seven percent of mothers were aware of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and 86% had used salt sugar solution (SSS). About 23%of mothers could not describe the correct reconstitution of SSS and only 28.4% would give sufficient quantities of SSS to avert dehydration. Antidiarrhoeal drugs were used by 28.3% of mothers. Over a third of mothers practised withdrawal of certain foods and fluid restriction during diarrhea while 48% knew about feeding extra meals after a diarrhoeal illness to allow for catch-up growth. Educated mothers had a better understanding of the management of childhood diarrhoea than their less educated counterparts. Emphasis needs to be laid on demonstrations of SSS preparation by health personnel to mothers. The staff on duty should supervise SSS administration by mothers while in health facilities and more education given on the purpose of SSS use, the quantity administered and correct reconstitution.

Key Words: Mothers, childhood diarrhoea, oral rehydration therapy, salt sugar solution, feeding

[Nig J Clinical Practice Vol.5(1) 2002: 64-68]