Knowledge, Perception, and Management Skills of Mothers with Under-five Children about Diarrhoeal Disease in Indigenous and Resettlement Communities in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia.
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Date
2015-03
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Abstract
As primary caregiver to under-five children in Ethiopia, mothers’ knowledge, perception, and management
skills are important to minimize the effects of morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhoeal
diseases. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Abramo and Megele 37
kebeles (the last administration division) in Assosa district of western Ethiopia in July 2010. Quantitative
data were obtained by a structured questionnaire from 232 randomly-selected mothers having children
aged less than five years regarding their knowledge, perception, and management. Qualitative data were
also collected by arranging four focus group discussions involving mothers from the two communities. The
prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children was 33.2%, and the knowledge of mothers
about the causes, transmission, and prevention of diarrhoea in the study area was 37.5%. The prevalence
of diarrhoeal disease was higher in the settlement area whereas mothers’ knowledge was better in the indigenous
community; 62.9% of mothers were categorized as having good attitude on causes, transmission,
and prevention of diarrhoeal disease. Community water source, water storage container, and knowledge of
mothers remained a strong predictor of diarrhoeal morbidity after conducting logistic regression analysis
(OR=8.4, CI 3.59-31.85; OR=2.2, CI 1.02-4.89; and OR=3.62, CI 1.23-4.71 respectively). Diarrhoeal morbidity
was high in the study areas. On the contrary, knowledge and attitude of mothers, recognizing the danger
sign of dehydration due to diarrhoea, and the prevention and management of childhood diarrhoeal
diseases were not adequate. Information, education and communication strategy may help increase the
knowledge and create positive attitude among mothers regarding the cause, prevention, and management
of diarrhoea.
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Keywords
Caretaker, Diarrhoea, Knowledge, Management, Mother, Perceptions, Under-five children, Ethiopia
Citation
Merga Nigatu, Alemayehu Tadesse. Knowledge, Perception, and Management Skills of Mothers with Under-five Children about Diarrhoeal Disease in Indigenous and Resettlement Communities in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2015 Mar; 33(1): 20-30.