Abstract

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf, Dr. Uzair Maqsud, Dr. Zunair Maqsud* and Dr. Tanveer Bandesha

ABSTRACT

Background: Diarrhea is one of the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. About two-thirds of the total annual deaths in Pakistan are currently among children under the age of five, and diarrhea is considered to be one of the major contributors to these deaths. Objective: To assess knowledge and practices of rural mothers about diarrhea among infants. Methodology: Study design Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: This study was conducted at OPD and diarrheal unit of children ward Allied hospital Faisalabad, from April to August 2017. A total of 200 rural mothers of infants were included in the study by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Before commencing with the data collection, informed consent was taken. The performa was designed and pretested and it contained variables like age, mother's education, mothers occupation, family income per month, knowledge about definition of diarrhea, causes of diarrhea, signs of dehydration, consequences of diarrhea, prepration of market available ORS sachet, continuation of breast feeding during diarrhea, consultation with doctor during diarrhea, time of consultation with the doctor, diet preferences during diarrhea and preventive measures applied by mothers during diarrhea. All the data collected was recorded on the performa, entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Results: Mean age of mothers was 25±6 years. In our study (52.4%) months were illiterate. Regarding mothers occupation 70% were housewives. Regarding Knowledge of the mothers on definition of diarrhea 49.43% told loose watery stool, 5.57% told increased frequency and 31.61% told both loose watery stool and increased frequency. As regards causes of diarrhea, (22.11%) pointed out contaminated water, (12.78%) eating mud and (25.82%) told both contaminated water and eating mud. Regarding signs of dehydration (12.82%) sunken eyes, (8.25%) dry skin and (30%) considered both sunken eyes and Dry skin. Regarding practices during diarrhea, 65.76% continued breast feeding during diarrhea, 85.76% consulted doctor but before consulting the doctor, 21.88% did self-medication and 65.62% consulted the doctor when condition of child was not improving. 40% gave diet preferences to both ORS and khichree, 26.79% ORS and 6.69% khichree only. 45% applied boiling the water, covering the food and keeping child and environment clean as preventive measure during diarrhea whereas 22.32% did boiling the water and covering the food only, whereas, 3.57% boiling the water only and 2.67% covering the foods only. Conclusion: Majority of the mothers has good knowledge and practices about diarrhea but still many of them do not have clear idea about prevention and ideal practices to be adopted during diarrhea and they should be focused. There is a need of health education program to be started in the rural areas of Faisalabad.