Childhood Morbidity from Diarrhoea and its Home Management.

Abstract

Summary: A household study on the prevalence and management of diarrhoeal disease was undertaken in Ogoja Local Government Area (OLGA) of Cross River State. A total of 4161 children under the age of five years from 36 clusters, formed the study sample. In the study, 286 children had diarrhoea during the 24-hour period preceding the study, giving a point prevalence of 6.9 percent. The annual diarrhoea incidence was 3.3 episodes per child, per year. The use rate of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) was 14.0 percent, its average intake was 970ml per child in 24 hours and 82.9 percent of mothers prepared the solution correctly. Salt Sugar Solution (SSS) use rate was 21.0 percent with an average of 308ml being consumed in 24 hours per child and 96.7 percent of mothers prepared it correctly. Continued breast feeding and continuing feeding by mothers recorded 93.8 percent and 96.3 percent, respectively. Drugs were used in 74.5 percent of the cases, with about 50 percent polypharmacy. Among identified drugs, antibacterials and antidiarrhoeals accounted for 31.4 and 23.0 percent respectively. Mothers' knowledge of the three rules of home care was 63.0 percent while 66.7 percent of the total number of children received increased fluid and continuing feeding. Access to ORS was 45.1 percent.