- 學位論文
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Assessment of Mothers in Managing Children under Five Years Old with Diarrhea in the Gambia
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Assessment of Mothers in Managing Children under Five Years Old with Diarrhea in the Gambia
並列摘要
AIM: The study investigated the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers’ who visited the department of Poly Clinic in managing children less than five years of age with diarrhea. OBJECTIVES: The study intended to assess the knowledge of mothers on the causes, effects, interventions and use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in childhood diarrhea, determine the attitude and practices of mothers towards the prevention and management of diarrheal diseases of children under 5 years old through interviews and assess the knowledge of mothers in managing children of under five years old with diarrhea DESIGN AND METHODS: The study adapted a quantitatively approached cross-sectional design to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers of children less than 5 years old of age with diarrhea using questionnaires as the study tools. Four hundred mothers were randomly selected out of a total population of 5,000 accounting for 20% of study population at the Department of Polyclinic of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul. Questionnaires were administered to study participants from July to August 2011. All the questionnaires were checked to ensure that none was missing for final analysis. Data collection was based on finding out the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children less than five years of age with diarrhea. Inclusion criteria included nursing mother or at least having a child less than five years old. Furthermore, subjects must be a mother to a child who has experienced diarrhea at least once in his life time. Participation in the study was voluntary and participants were free to leave at any time of the study if they desire. Withdrawal from the study will not affect the services offered to any subject. RESULTS: Although mothers’ role is a complex one in the variable under study, they are however deficit in fulfilling this function. This study finding revealed that mothers’ demonstrated a good knowledge in managing childhood diarrhea. However, knowledge on the management of diarrhea among children less than five years may vary according to the mothers’ level of education and as well as their socioeconomic status. Several gaps existed between knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers in the management of diarrhea. The high knowledge revealed in this study had not influenced the practice of mothers in managing the disease. Mothers demonstrated a low rate of ORS usage and inadequate ability in its preparation. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that mothers had high knowledge in the management of diarrhea. However, several gaps existed between knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers. The high knowledge revealed in this study had not influenced the practice of mothers in managing the disease