Traditional methods used by mothers of under fives in management of diarrhoea in Temeke Municipality, Dar es salaam

Objective: To investigate traditional methods / remedies used by mothers of under five in management of diarrhea in Temeke Municipality, Dar es salaam Methodology; Cross sectional study were by 161 mothers of under five were interviwed .Data records from sensa of 2004 were used to guide the sampling of the localities in Temeke Municipal as they were found to have large number of under five children .Semi-structured questioner was used for data collection which focused on the methods /remedies used in management of diarrhea . Result The study has revealed that the commonest methods/remedies used by the majority were from medicinal plant or herbs source Leaves of various trees, plant barks and very few roots were used. A total of 161 mothers were interviewed of whom 74 (46%) and 87 (54%) had female and male underfives (UF) respectively with an average of 2—year-old. All of the interviewees accepted their underfives having had diarrhea in their lifetime (Table 3). There was no statistically significant differences between male 87(54%) and female 74 (46%) underfives with respect to diarrheic episodes . .Of the 161, 46 (3 0%) mothers said it was a normal growth stage, 15 (9.3%) said could be due to poor sanitation, while 53 (33%) they did not know, The study also analyzed the knowledge of the mothers on management of diarrhea with respect to educational level. Majority of the respondents 124 (77%) were affirmative on the efficacy of the traditional means that were used in management of diarrhea. It is not belatedly, the death can be prevented if proper measures are taken. Conclusion; the study found a high prevalence rate of diarrhea in the study population. The traditional methods employed for management of the illness manifested satisfactory effectiveness in controlling diarrheic episodes. Recommandation; This study therefore recommends that Those traditional methods/remedies should be scientifically analyzed, improved and quantified, since they have proved to be very helpful in resolving diarrheic problem at least before seeking further medical attention Besides this, the study recommends that mothers should take their children to hospitals for routine medical examination regardless that they have diarrhea or not