Facility-Based Treatment of Under Five Diarrhoea in Cross River State: A Clinical Audit

Abstract

Introduction: Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of under-five mortality globally and ranks second among the top 10 priority child health problems in Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended some cost-effective, evidence- based interventions for diarrhoea case management. It is needful to evaluate the current practice in the treatment of diarrhoea in under-fives in health facilities in the country.

Objective: To determine the extent to which current treatment practice for diarrhoea in underfives conforms to the WHO recommendation.

Method: A clinical audit was conducted between May and June 2013 in 32 health facilities in the Southern Senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria. Trained field workers extracted information from patients’ case records using a validated audit tool. Treatment was checked as appropriate, inappropriate, wrong or none, based on prescription on patients’ case records.

Result: Of the 370 case records audited, prescription for diarrhoea was appropriate in 40 (10.8%), inappropriate in 231 (62.4%), wrong in 82 (22.2%) and no prescription was made in 17 (4.6%).

Conclusion: Treatment of diarrhoea in under-fives in health facilities in the State is suboptimum. Retraining of health workers on the current WHO and UNICEF treatment guidelines is highly recommended.

Keywords: Diarrhoea, Underfives, Health Facilities, Prescription, Clinical Audit