To evaluate knowledge and approach of mothers towards a child with diarrhea, focusing on oral rehydration therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia and diarrhea are the leading causes of under-five mortality. Oral rehydration 
therapy (ORT) with oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution remains the cornerstone of appropriate case 
management of diarrheal dehydration and is considered the single most effective strategy to prevent 
diarrheal deaths in children. However, data show that ORS usage rates are still unacceptable. Moreover, 
there is lack of knowledge and awareness amongst care providers on how to implement and achieve 
greater coverage of existing cost-effective interventions. 
Materials and Methods: This is a community based; time bound observational study conducted at 
Gnanapuram, Visakhapatnam from over a period of 6 months. The study was conducted at Primary 
Health Centre. In our study, all the mothers of under-five children coming to the OPD (irrespective of 
their reasons for attendance to the health centre) were interviewed. These mothers belonged to the low 
socio-economic strata from the adjoining area.