Awareness and Knowledge of Diarrhoeal Home Management among Mothers of Under-five in Ibadan, Nigeria

Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha,Bolaji Egbewale

doi:10.13189/ujph.2017.050106

Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha, Bolaji Egbewale

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/ujph.2017.050106

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Abstract

Improving maternal and child health care is one of the most utmost priorities of every responsible society. Civilization is adjudged by the level of assistance and help a society renders to its most vulnerable groups. Under-five children constitute an important population group in terms of vulnerability to health conditions that could adversely affect their health and well-being. Diarrhoea disease has been reported to be one of the most common causes of infant deaths especially in the developing countries of the world. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) with oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the appropriate management of diarrhoeal dehydration and is the single most effective strategy in preventing diarrhoeal deaths in children. The extent to which mothers of under-five children can adopt this therapy is tied to their level of knowledge on its efficacy and preparation. This study was designed to examine awareness and knowledge of ORS in diarrhea home management among mothers of under-five in Ibadan. The cross-sectional descriptive survey was employed in the study and data was generated from households using a self-developed and validated questionnaire. Generated data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages. Findings showed that while awareness of ORS in diarrhea prevention was high, knowledge relating to its preparation and use was found to be low. Population-specific intervention to improve knowledge of under-five mothers on diarrhea home management was recommended.

Highlights

Civilizations are adjudged by the level of assistance and care a society can render for its most vulnerable populations.Childhood stage of development is characterized by near-total dependence by the children on adults and health care services provided by them
Research Questions The study provided answers to the following research questions: 1) What is the level of awareness of mothers on the use of oral rehydration solution in home management of under-five diarrhoea in Ibadan? 2) What is the level of knowledge of diarrhoeal home management among mothers of under-five children in Ibadan?
From the outcome of the study, it is concluded that under-five mothers in Ibadan have a high level of awareness of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in diarrhoea home management, this awareness level is not reflected in knowledge of ORS preparation and use in under-five diarrhoea management at home

Summary

Introduction

Civilizations are adjudged by the level of assistance and care a society can render for its most vulnerable populations.Childhood stage of development is characterized by near-total dependence by the children on adults and health care services provided by them. Diarrhoea is the passage of three or more loose or watery stools in a 24-hour period. It can be an increase in daily stool fluidity, frequency or volume from what is considered to be normal for individual. Diarrhoea can result from a wide range of factors, which include infection such as bacterial, protozoa and viral infections, examples are rotavirus, cholera, and typhoid enteritis which are transmitted through the faecal-oral route. It can be non-infective origin such as dietary indiscretions and problems of mal-digestion and mal-absorption [1]

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