The knowledge ,attitude ,and practices towards diarrheal diseases in children under five years of age

This community based study was conducted I Elobeid town , the Capital of the North Kordofan State in the Western part of the Sudan . ( The study was a partial fulfillment for Master degree in Public and Environmental Health ). The people who reside in the study area are mostly of socioeconomic diversity The literacy rate is high and the occupations are mainly government employees skills and unskilled workers and traders. The housing conditions are not bad, the drainage and waste disposal system are poor . Potable water supply is usually from collected rain water and underground water sources and distributed through common irregular tap and water tankers (vendors). The aim of this study is to study knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) of the mothers towards diarrheal diseases in children under five years of age. Child care givers (mothers) of children under five years of age were interviewed as study unit. A sample size of (384) mothers were selected using the equation: n = Z2 Q2 d2 The methods of data collection are including: - questionnaire, focus group discussion and observation. Data analysis was conducted using micro computer and the statistical association between the variable are checked using X2 – test . The study provided many essential result from which : the use rate of ORS is found to be in adequate (43.3%), while the use rate of antidiarrheal drug is high (53.5%), (25.2%) of the mothers stopped breast feeding during diarrhea, the use rate of bottle feeding is found to be high (74.9%) , and some mothers (15.1%) prevent their children from food during diarrhea . The observation revealed that some mothers prepare ORS and sugar salt solution (SSS) incorrectly. The observation also revealed that there were many factors which may have role in prevalence of diarrheal diseases ,these include : unsanitary environmental condition , inadequate water supply ,poor personal hygiene of some mothers and children ,poor weaning practices. The study recommendations include many points from which raising the awareness of the mothers by health education programs covering different important health aspects associated by away or another with diarrhea diseases of children including home management of diarrheal diseases , and the three main points which are important are:- 1- increase fluids intake .2-continued feeding . 3- seek medical care when important