Abstract

Background: Each year diarrheal disease, which is highly preventable, causes an estimated 1.5 million deaths worldwide in children under 5 years of age. Oral rehydration therapy is the cornerstone of global efforts to reduce mortality from acute diarrhea. Objectives:(a) assessing baseline knowledge and skill regarding management of acute diarrheal diseases (ADDs) among mothers of children <5 years of age; (b) imparting knowledge and skill regarding management of ADD to the mothers; and (c) assessing the impact of education in the form of gain in knowledge and skills of these mothers in preparing oral rehydration salt (ORS). Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 56 randomly selected mothers of children up to 5 years in Thakkerbapanagar ward of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation before and after imparting education about ADD. Baseline level of knowledge and skill regarding the management of ADD was assessed. Skill-based education including when to start ORS, how to prepare ORS, and other home-available fluids was imparted and improvement in knowledge and skill was assessed 6 months after the intervention.
Results: The mean age of women in the study was 24.9±3.3 years. Over 30% were illiterate and 12.5% had studied >10th standard. Only one woman had completed graduation. The majority (85.7%) were housewives. There was significant improvement in mothers’ overall knowledge (mean score pre-intervention = 32.9%; post-intervention = 80.9%; Z = 8.4; p < 0.01). Improvement was also observed in knowledge related to when to start ORS (Z =5.54; p < 0.01) and when to consult a doctor (Z = 5.89; p < 0.01) after education, and also in demonstration of how to prepare alternatives of ORS (χ2 =34.35; p < 0.0001). Marked improvement in skill of making ORS was observed among mothers after giving skill-based education (χ2 = 25.87; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Repeated skill-based health education to mothers and mass educational programs are beneficial. Health-care providers should demonstrate preparation of ORS to mothers.