KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY AMONG MOTHERS ATTENDING UNDER FIVE CLINIC IN NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (NAUTH), NNEWI

Ibebuike J. E.*, Iquiro A. A., Ibebuike K. E., Nwokike I. G., Okafor G. I., Vincent C. C., Nwagu S. A. and Oluchi C. C.

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of oral rehydration therapy among mothers under five Clinic in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi. The target population of the study was 300, the sample size consisted of 120 using stratified and simple random sampling technique, the instrument for data collection was 19 items questionnaire. Data were analysed using inferential statistics and presented in frequency and table. The study revealed that the respondents have adequate knowledge of disease diarrhea and oral rehydration solution since majority 109 (90.8%) of the respondents have heard of the disease called diarrhea, a good number 104 (95.4%) of them ascertained that it occurs by passage of frequent loose stools at least twice a day, in the same vein more than half 104 (86.6%) of the respondents heard about oral rehydration solution. Also the study revealed that the respondents have positive attitude towards oral rehydration therapy since 87 (72.5%) of the respondents agreed that oral rehydration solution is what is used to treat diarrhea, in the same vein 101 (84.2%) disagreed that giving a child oral rehydration solution when having diarrhea is not important. Similarly, the study revealed that the mothers practice oral rehydration therapy since majority 102(85.0%) of the respondents has practiced oral rehydration and 78(76.5%) claimed they normally give their children sachet salt sugar solution bought over the canter. There should be an organised health education especially designed to educate the women in the society about the causes of diarrhea disease.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Oral Rehydration Therapy, Mothers, Under Five Clinic, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.