Main Article Content
Mothers’ knowledge, Perceptions and practices of Home based management of Childhood Diarrhea in aRural Community in Anambra State, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to examine mothers' knowledge, perceptions and practices of household case management of childhood diarrhea.
Subjects and methods: Two hundred and four (204) mothers were selected by a multistage, clustered, systematic sampling technique during the four day house-to-house national immunization day (NID) campaign in Neni Community on March, 2006. Information was collected with a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire, and data entry and analysis were done using the EPI INFO 3.2.2 version software.
Results: The mean age and parity of the mothers were 27+ 5 years and 2.7+1.8, respectively. They were mainly housewives (38.2%) and traders (33.3%). More than two third (73.0%) had secondary education. Many of the mothers lacked accurate knowledge about the specific causes of childhood diarrhea, as they associated it with divergent causes. Almost all the respondents (99.0%) were aware of oral rehydration solution/salt sugar solution (ORS/SSS); and 87.7% agreed that ORS/SSS is effective for the treatment of diarrhea, but only 44.3% gave ORS/SSS, while 29.4% gave antibiotics/antidiarhea drugs to their children who suffered diarrhea. Only 40.9% knew how to prepare ORS/SSS correctly, and the correct knowledge of ORS/SSS preparation was significantly associated with the source of information. (x2 = 25.82, df = 4, P = 0.000). The health facilities served as the major sources of information (74.0%). Others sources were friends /relations/neighbours (22.6%) and media (3.4%). About 82.8% indicated that antibiotic/antidiarrhea drugs should be administered to a child with diarrhea. Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for more effective health education sessions for mothers on
the proper management of diarrhea at home.
Key words: Mothers' knowledge, perception, home management, childhood diarrhea, rural Nigeria.
Subjects and methods: Two hundred and four (204) mothers were selected by a multistage, clustered, systematic sampling technique during the four day house-to-house national immunization day (NID) campaign in Neni Community on March, 2006. Information was collected with a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire, and data entry and analysis were done using the EPI INFO 3.2.2 version software.
Results: The mean age and parity of the mothers were 27+ 5 years and 2.7+1.8, respectively. They were mainly housewives (38.2%) and traders (33.3%). More than two third (73.0%) had secondary education. Many of the mothers lacked accurate knowledge about the specific causes of childhood diarrhea, as they associated it with divergent causes. Almost all the respondents (99.0%) were aware of oral rehydration solution/salt sugar solution (ORS/SSS); and 87.7% agreed that ORS/SSS is effective for the treatment of diarrhea, but only 44.3% gave ORS/SSS, while 29.4% gave antibiotics/antidiarhea drugs to their children who suffered diarrhea. Only 40.9% knew how to prepare ORS/SSS correctly, and the correct knowledge of ORS/SSS preparation was significantly associated with the source of information. (x2 = 25.82, df = 4, P = 0.000). The health facilities served as the major sources of information (74.0%). Others sources were friends /relations/neighbours (22.6%) and media (3.4%). About 82.8% indicated that antibiotic/antidiarrhea drugs should be administered to a child with diarrhea. Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for more effective health education sessions for mothers on
the proper management of diarrhea at home.
Key words: Mothers' knowledge, perception, home management, childhood diarrhea, rural Nigeria.
