Knowledge and Practices of Home Diarrhoea Management among Adolescent Mothers with under Five Children in Nyando SubCounty, Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Globally, diarrhea is the primary cause of death for children under the age of five. In Kenya, it continues to be a significant source of illness and mortality in this age range. Mothers play crucial roles in the prevention and control of diarrhea among these children by practicing easy home management. Aim: This study aimed to assess adolescent mothers’ knowledge, and practice in the prevention and home management of diarrhoeal diseases among children under five years old in Nyando sub-county, Kenya Setting: This study was conducted in Nyando sub-county, Kisumu County, Kenya. Methods: A mixed method descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted using a Proportionate sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and interview guides and analysed using STATA version 16 to generate the tables and bar graphs. NVivo version 12 was used to analyse the qualitative data adopting thematic analysis approach. Results: Boiling of drinking water was a common practice as reported by majority (75.8%, n= 216) of the participants. A total of 94 mothers (33.0%) expressed knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding while 10.5% (n=30) indicated maintenance of cleanliness as methods. These adolescent mothers practiced continued feeding and breastfeeding during diarrhoea episodes. In addition, the use suboptimal diarrhoea management practices such as food restriction and use of traditional herbs was practiced among the study participants. Conclusion: Continued feeding and breastfeeding during diarrhoea episodes were identified as appropriate management practices and were significant in preventing dehydration as well as increased vulnerability to malnutrition. There is also need of creating awareness of other diarrhoea management practices such as the use of banana and yoghurt as well as demystifying the use of traditional herbs in diarrhoea management.