KNOWLEDGE OF ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY IN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH DIARRHOEA AND DEHYDRATION

Venkateshwarlu. P, Radha Mohan. M

Abstract


Background: Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the children. Children who survive develop
malnutrition as a result of repeated episodes of diarrhoea and inadequate feeding during and following diarrhoea.
Approximately 90% of these cases can be successfully treated with ORT and continued breast feeding without using anti-diarrheal drugs and
antibiotics. The optimum management of diarrhoea is, therefore, not only to reduce morbidity and mortality, but also to prevent malnutrition.
Correct knowledge regarding Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) helps to prevent morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoea.
Objective: a) To identify cases of diarrhoea among children at paediatrics OPD, b) To assess the awareness, knowledge and practice of mothers
of children regarding oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and home management of diarrhoea.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational study conducted in a Teaching Hospital in Telangana State, India from April 2018 to March
2019. 600 children (n=600) with diarrhoea attending to our OPD and the mothers or caregivers of these children were enrolled in study and these
mothers and caregivers were interviewed with preset questionnaire regarding oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and diarrhoea management and
knowledge and awareness regarding ORT were assessed and analyzed.
Results: In this study we observed only 8.8% of mothers of children with diarrhoea were using ORS. Regarding Mainstay in Management of
Mild Diarrhea in Children 17.6% Mothers – ORS and 82.4% Mothers - Syrups and Tablets. Those who know about ORS Correct Preparation –
30% and– 59% Incorrect Preparation. 14% of Women from Rural Areas know Proper Preparation of ORS and 42% Of Women from Urban
Areas. In mothers whose educational standard is > 5th class 35.4% know correct preparation of ORS and in < 5th standard only 17.3% know. When
mothers have been asked regarding what they will do if vomiting occurs the response is 44% of mothers said they will continue administration of
ORS. 38.8% of mothers said they will continue administration of ORS with anti emetics. 11.2% -immediately consult medical practitioner. 6% -
stop administration of ORS. Most of them were not aware regarding danger signs and education by healthcare provider about ORS and ORT was
effective when compared to other measures.
Conclusion: Oral rehydration therapy in diarrhoea is most useful and effective treatment. But most of the mothers who will take initial care of the
children with diarrhoea and dehydration are not aware of this therapy i.e. preparation and usage. There is need for educating the mothers by
health care providers.


Keywords


Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), Diarrhoea, Dehydration, Knowledge, Awareness, Education.

Full Text:

PDF

References


WHO Fact Sheet. Diarrhoeal disease. 2013. April 2013, retrieved on 24 Nov 2013. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/

Drug and Therapy Perspectives. Disease Management. 2004; 20 (1):p-7

Park, J. E. Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. India: M/S Banarsidas Bhanot; 2009.

Alam, N. H. & Ashraf, H. (2003). Treatment of Infectious Diarrhoea. Paediatric Drugs. 2003;5(3):151-65

WHO & UNICEF. Oral Rehydration Salts. Switzerland, Geneva: 2006.

Gerald, T. K. et al. Diarrheal Diseases. In Jamison D T. Breman J G. Measham A R, et al., (Ed.) Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. Washington (DC): World Bank; 2006.

Seema A., Rajeev K., & Uzma F. Acute Childhood Diarrhoea: A review of Recent Advances in the Standard Management. Retrieved from Paediatric On call, Paediatric E-Journal, 2006; 3(12), available at URL http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/newsletter/newsletterdec2006.asp

Ministry of Health, Sindh, Pakistan. State of Health in Sindh. Annual Report.2003

UNICEF. Pakistan at a Glance. Annual Report. 2003

WHO. Pakistan: Health Profile, World Health Organization. 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013

Pakistan Medical Association. Annual Report of Pakistan Medical Association. 2011. Cited by The Express Tribune. 2011. Mar12, 2011issue: One child dies every minute in Pakistan.

UNICEF. UNICEF celebrates Global Hand-washing Day. 2012. Oct, 2012. Retrieved on 24 Nov 2013. http://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media_7941.htm

Bhutta, Z. A. The Express Tribune, August 24, 2013. Retrieved on 24 Nov.2013. http://tribune.com.pk/story/594431/battling-child-mortality-highest-cases- of-diarrhoea-in-country-claimed-by-sindh/

1. United Nations Children's Fund. Diarrhoea: Why children are still dying and what can be done? New York, NY: UNICEF; 2009. p68.

Walker CL, Aryee MJ, Boschi-Pinto C, Black RE. Estimating diarrhea mortality among young children in low and middle income countries. PLoS One 2012; 7: e29151. Epub Jan 3, 2012.

Munos MK, Walker CL, Black RE. The effect of oral rehydration solution and recommended home fluids on diarrhoea mortality. Int J Epidemiol 2010; 39: i75-i87.

Jha N, Singh R, Baral D. Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding home management of acute diarrhoea in Sunsari, Nepal. Nepal Med Coll J 2006; 8: 27-30.

Wilson SE, Ouédraogo CT, Prince L, Ouédraogo A, Hess SY, Rouamba N, et al. Caregiver recognition of childhood diarrhea, care seeking behaviors and home treatment practices in rural Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional survey. PLoS One 2012; 7: e33273. Epub Mar 13, 2012.

Shah MS, Ahmad A, Khalique N, Afzal S, Ansari MA, Khan Z. Home available management of acute diarrhoeal disease in an urban slum of Aligarh, India. J Infect Dev Ctries 2012; 6: 137-42.

Adimora GN, Ikefuna AN, Ilechukwu G. Home management of childhood diarrhoea: need to intensify campaign. Niger J Clin Pract 2011; 14: 237-41.

Gupta N, Jain SK, Ratnesh, Chawla U, Hossain S, Venkatesh S. An evaluation of diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections control programmes in a Delhi slum. Indian J Pediatr 2007; 74: 471-6.

Sutariya S, Talsania N, Shah C. Study of prevalence of diarrhoeal disease amongst under five population. Natl J Community Med 2011; 2: 96-9.

International Institute for Population Sciences. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3): India, 2005–06. V. I. Mumbai, India: IIPS; 2007. p168.

Nizami SQ, Khan IA, Bhutta ZA. Self-reported concepts about oral rehydration solution, drug prescribing and reasons for pre scribing antidiarrhoeals for acute watery diarrhea in children. Trop Doct 1996; 26: 180-3.

Page AL, Hustache S, Luquero FJ, Djibo A, Manzo ML, Grais RF. Health care seeking behavior for diarrhea in children under 5 in rural Niger: results of a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 2011; 11: 389.

Lazzerini M, Ronfani L. Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 6: CD005436.

Pahwa S, Kumar GT, Toteja GS. Performance of a community based health and nutrition-education intervention in the management of diarrhoea in a slum of Delhi, India. J Health Popul Nutr 2010; 28: 553-9.

Rishi RK, Bodakhe SH, Tailang M. Patterns of use of oral rehydration therapy in Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttaranchal, India. Trop Doct 2003; 33: 143-5.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.