Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Mothers about Diarrhea in Children under 5 years

Authors

  • Yasmin Mumtaz Department of Community Medicine, DowUniversity of Health Sciences,Karachi,Pakista
  • Mubbashir Zafar PG Student FCPS II, Department of Community Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Zara Mumtaz Department of Community Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Keywords:

Diarrhea, mother, child, attitude, practices, Civil Hospital

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diarrhea among mothers of children less than 5 years of age in civil hospital Karachi.

Methodology:

It is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Pediatrics ward and OPD Civil HospitalKarachi during July - August 2011. Non-random Convenient sampling was adopted to sample 200 subjects by interviewing mothers after taking their consent. Mothers have at least one child less than 5 years of age were included.

Results:

Mothers' knowledge regarding the causes of diarrhea; contaminated water (17%), eating mud (14%), teething (10%). About signs of dehydration, 40% mothers gave unspecific signs and 26% responded with sunken eye as the only sign while 35% answered two signs (thirst and dry hair/skin). Mothers who knew how to prepare ORS were 80%. Regarding prevention of diarrhea, 15.5% mothers knew to cover food and 14.5% to boil water. Regarding health care seeking practices 52.5% mothers took the child to the doctor after 2 days, 30% mothers did self-medication.

Conclusion:

There is inadequate maternal knowledge; attitude and practices regarding diarrhea and its prevention in the population studied. There is need of health education to mothers about diarrhea, its causes prevention and proper treatment.

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References

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Published

2014-04-10

How to Cite

Mumtaz, Y. ., Zafar, M., & Mumtaz, Z. . (2014). Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Mothers about Diarrhea in Children under 5 years. Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (JDUHS), 8(1), 3–6. Retrieved from https://mail.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/1460

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Original Articles