3. Awareness of Mothers Regarding Concept and Management of Diarrhea in Children of Taunsa Sharif, Pakistan
Hafiza Mehreen Gul1, Sadia Batool2, Sidra Bilal3 and Muhammad Ishtiaq4
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the knowledge of mothers regarding diarrhea and the management practices of pediatric diarrhea.
Study Design: Descriptive /cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Taunsa Sharif from June 2016 to September 2016.
Materials and Methods: A Performa comprising of questions was prepared aiming was to know the understanding of mothers regarding diarrhea. Presented a mother of a baby suffering from diarrhea had been instructed by the primary doctor to take the most appropriate answer. All mothers are willing to answer questions that were included in the study. The results were obtained using SPSS 23. Mean median, mode calculated and results presentedby using tables and charts.
Results: Total 90 mothers were interviewed with boys 43 (48%) and girls were 47 (52%). The majority of mothers
60 (66.5%) were belong to low socioeconomic status. The median age was 1.5 years. Between the ages of 20-30, 67 (74%) mothers, 17 (19%) over 30 years, and only 6 (7%) mothers younger than 20 years. 68 (76%) mothers knew that how to make correct preparation of ORS , 14 (15%) was incorrect and 8 (9%) did not know how to prepare oral rehydration salts (ORS). 47 (52%) mother knew the wrong amount though 35 (39%) knew the right amount giving after each loose motion. Most of the mothers 40 (44%) were utilizing municipal water, 28 (31%) groundwater, 19 (21%) water filters and 3 (3.34%) mothers were buying it.
Although 40 (44%) of mothers thought that as the number of increased stool is diarrhea, only 14 (15%) of mothers thought diarrhea as stool with liquid concentration. However, 33 (37%) mothers thought these two features of stool as diarrhea and 4 (4.5%) mothers did not know about diarrhea. 26 (29%) of mothers considered dirty hands while, feeder 14 (15%) and 15 (16%) water thought as pathogenic factors, respectively. Mothers of 60 (66%) were educated and 31 (34%) were uneducated. 79 (87%) mothers were housewives and 12 (13%) were working women. Conclusion: The mother's knowledge about diarrhea has increased in all its aspects. It is necessary to recognize the concept of quantitative signs of dehydration, oral rehydration salts given and to promote continued conventional feeding during illness.
Key Words: ORS; Diarrhea; Dehydration
Citation of article: Gul HM, Batool S, Bilal S, Ishtiaq M. Awareness of Mothers Regarding Concept and Management of Diarrhea in Children of Taunsa Sharif, Pakistan. Med Forum 2017;28(2):11-14.