Knowledge And Utilization Of Oral Rehydration Therapy Among Mothers Attending Child Welfare Clinic, Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang,
Uruan Akwa Ibom State.
Chapter One
Introduction
Background Of Study
Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years old. Its both preventable and treatable. Each year diarrheal kills around 525,000 children under fire. A significant proportion of diarrheal disease can be prevented through safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene. Globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrheal disease every year. (World Health Organization, 2017).
Diarrhea can last several days, and can leave the body without water and salts that are necessary for survival. In the past, for most people, severe dehydration and fluid loss were the main causes of diarrhea deaths. Now, other causes such as septic bacterial infection are likely to account for an increasing proportion of all diarrhea associated dashes. Children who are malnourished or have impaired immunity as well as people living with Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) are most at risk of life-threatening diarrhea.
Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. Frequent passing of formed stools is not diarrhea, nor is the passing of loose “pasty” stools by breastfed babies. Diarrhea is usually a symptom of and infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene intervention to prevent diarrhea include, safe drinking water, use of improved sanitation and hand washing with soap.
Diarrhea should be treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS), a solution of clean water, sugar and salt. In addition 9 10-14 day supplemental treatment course of dispersible 20mg zinc tablets shortens diarrhea duration and improves outcomes.
There are three clinical types of diarrhea. Acute watery diarrhea-lasts several hours or days and include cholera.
Acute bloody diarrhea, also called dysentery persistent diarrhea; lasts 14 days or larger.
The most severe threat posed by diarrhea is dehydration. During a diarrhea episode, water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate) are lost through liquid stools, vomit, sweat, urine and breathing. Dehydration occurs when these losses are not replaced. The degree of dehydration is rate on a scale of three (3). Severe dehydration (at least two of the following signs) lethargy/unconsciousness, sunken eyes, unable to drink, skin pinch goes back very slowly (2 secodns) some dehydration (two or more of the following signs) restlessness, irritability, sunken eyes, thirsty.
No dehydration (not enough signs to classify as some). Key measures to prevent diarrhea includes; access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation, hand washing with soap, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, good personal and food hygiene and rotavirus vaccination.
Key measures to treat diarrhea include the following; Rehydration with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solutions. ORS is a mixture of clean water, salt and sugar, absorbed in the small intestine and replaces the water and electrolytes lost in the faces.
Zinc supplement reduce the duration of a diarrhea episode by 25%.
Rehydration with intravenous fluids in cases of severe dehydration of shock (WHO, 2017).
According to world Health Organization (WHO) oral rehydration therapy includes oral rehydration salt solution, recommended home fluids also known as salt sugar solutions combined with continue age-appropriate nutrition. The Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) involves rehydrating children by replacing fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhea.
According to Current World Health Organization/United Nations Children Education find guidelines, ORT should begin at home with home fluids or a home-prepared salt and sugar solution at the first sign of diarrhea to prevent dehydration. Feeding should be continued at all times. ORT is a simple and in expensive, potentially effective treatment for dehydration related to diarrhea which has been promoted widely throughout the developing world since the Late 1970’s (Pakenham, 2012).
Statement Of Problem
Diarrhea disease especially among infant are ranked second among the top ten diseases affecting infants. Thus, the role of mothers in the management of diarrhea is of crucial importance. Substantial research has been done on the cause of diarrhea (Rudan, Black and Camp 2011). In the WHO African region, its estimated that each child in the region has five episodes of diarrhea per year and that 800,000 die each year from diarrhea and dehydration.
However, despite the extensive efforts made to promote the utilization and knowledge of oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of diarrhea in infants for the last several decades, its utilization by rural communities has remained unsatisfactory.
These problems prompted the researcher to access the knowledge and utilization of oral rehydration therapy among mothers attending Child Welfare Clinic, General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Objectives Of The Study
To assess the level of knowledge of mothers on oral rehydration therapy.
To assess the extent at which mothers use oral rehydration therapy.
To identify factors that influence mother’s utilization of oral rehydration therapy.
To determine strategies that can be adopted to improve the use of oral rehydration therapy by these mothers.
Research Questions
What is the level of knowledge of mothers towards oral rehydration therapy?
To what extent do the mothers utilize oral rehydration therapy?
What are the factors hindering the mothers from utilizing oral rehydration therapy?
What are the strategies that can be adopted to improve the utilization of oral rehydration therapy among mothers attending child welfare clinics?
Significance Of The Study
This study will be of significance to the following; Health care providers, policy makers, mothers and the researcher.
This study will provide information, education and communication of diarrhea and oral rehydration salt utilization.
It will provide knowledge on the management of diarrhea. This study will broaden the knowledge of mothers about oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of diarrhea in children, and its correct preparation.
It will encourage mothers on the utilization of oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of diarrheal and dehydration.
It will create awareness about the treatment of diarrhea utilizing oral rehydration therapy.
This study will serve as a valid reference material for other researchers.
This study will expose the researcher to more facts and other remedies used in the treatment of diarrhea in children.
Scope Of Study
This study is designed to assess the knowledge and utilization of oral rehydration therapy among mothers attending child welfare clinic, General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Operational Definition Of Terms
Knowledge: Awareness of Oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of dehydration and diarrhea in children of mothers attending child welfare clinic in Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Utilization: The act of using ORT in treatment of dehydration and diarrhea among mothers attending Child Welfare Clinic in Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Oral rehydration therapy: It’s a therapy used for the treatment of dehydration and diarrhea in children of mothers attending Child Welfare Clinic in Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Mother: a female parent of a child that attends Child Welfare Clinic in Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
Child Welfare Clinic: is a department in the hospital or health centre where children (0-5years) are cared for (both the sick and healthy ones) Child Welfare Clinic in Methodist General Hospital Ituk Mbang.
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