Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: March | Volume: 10 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 544-559
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230361
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diarrhoea, Home Management and Prevention among Mothers/Care-Givers Attending a Paediatric Outpatient Clinic in Rivers State, Nigeria
Boma Awoala West1, Tamunoiyowuna Grace Okari2
1,2Department of Paediatrics, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
1,2Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Boma Awoala West
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Diarrhoea is a major contributor to under-five morbidity and mortality. A good knowledge of the disease and caregivers’ ability to commence appropriate treatment at home is key in reducing childhood mortality.
Aim: To assess caregivers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of diarrhoea home management and prevention in a paediatric outpatient clinic in Nigeria.
Method: The study took place in the paediatric outpatient clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. A questionnaire was used to collect data on biodata, knowledge, attitude and practice of diarrhoea home treatment and prevention from mothers/caregivers. Each question answered correctly was awarded a mark. The participants were grouped into having good, fair and poor knowledge, attitude and practice based on their scores.
Results: Overall, 69.7% of the participants had good attitude while only 31.1% and 34.8% had good knowledge and practice of diarrhoea home management. Majority of the participants (83.3%) correctly defined diarrhoea and knew that diarrhoeal illness could have complications (90.3%), but only few knew the signs of dehydration (34.2%) and identified danger signs of diarrhoea (22.4%). About 43% commenced treatment at home when their children had diarrhoea but only 14% gave the right treatment. The caregivers age, parity and educational level were significantly associated with good knowledge and attitude, while socioeconomic class of the mothers/caregivers was associated with good practice of diarrhoea home management and prevention.
Conclusion: Mothers/caregivers’ knowledge and practice of home management/prevention of diarrhoeal disease was suboptimal. Health workers and community educators therefore need to do more to improve the narrative.
Keywords: Diarrhoea, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Mothers/caregivers, Home management, Prevention, Nigeria
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