Research Article
DOI:
xxx-xxxx-xxx
Subject:
Medical
KeyWords:
Maternal, Knowledge, Practice, Childhood Diarrhoea, Sirutar VDC
Abstract:
| Diarrhoea is a significant public health problem in Nepal with frequent reports of outbreaks. As mothers are the centre of family care and are involved in home management of childhood diarrhoeas, it is very important that they have correct knowledge about the disease and its management. Thus this study aims to assess maternal knowledge and management practice towards childhood diarrhoea in Sirutar Village Development Committee in Bhaktapur District. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 222 mothers having an under five children. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered using statistical software Epi-data and data analysis was done in terms of descriptive statistics by using SPSS to calculate the univariate analysis like frequency, percentage, mean and CI. Level of knowledge and practice was assessed by using a scoring system. Majority of the woman were Hindu, belonged to Upper caste groups and in the age group 21-30 years. Majority of the woman were illiterate and agriculture. Specifically, the knowledge was low among the respondents on consequences of diarrhoea, significance of breast milk (23%) and Zinc tablets (29%) during childhood diarrhoea. Most (78.4%) of the mothers used ORS for the management of paediatric diarrhoea and about three quarter of the mother had given ORS in the last episode of their child’s diarrhoea. Less than half of the mothers correctly prepared ORS. Specifically, the respondents exhibited poor practice on purification of drinking water (3.2%) and use of Zinc ckakki (18%) during paediatric diarrhoea. Lack of awareness was the only reason mentioned for not using Zinc chakki. Overall, an insignificant proportions of the respondents exhibited good knowledge (5.9%) and good practice (10.8%). The mean score for knowledge was 0.3063 (95% CI 0.2302, 0.3824). Similarly, the mean score for practice was 0.7703 (95% CI 0.6871, 0.8534). In this study, the knowledge and practice of the mothers in Sirutar VDC, towards under five diarrhoea was poor. |
