Assessment of Knowledge and Perception of Mothers and Caregivers Towards Oral Rehydration Therapy and Diarrhea Diseases in Mathare Sub-county, Nairobi, Kenya

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) plays a significant role in reducing both mortality and morbidity associated with diarrhea diseases. In spite of various efforts to promote the use of ORT, deaths, especially among children, arising from cases of diarrhea are still recorded every year. This study seeks to evaluate mothers and caregivers’ knowledge and perception towards ORT and its use in the treatment of diarrhea. The target population of the study is caregivers of children less than five years of age who visit the health facilities in Huruma Lions Health Center and three other private health facilities (Jumia Hospital, Huruma Nursing Home and Shofco Hospital) in Mathare Sub-County for preventive health services. A total of 130 caregivers that falls within the age group of 20 – 50 years participated in this study. The data was gathered through administration of questionnaire to caregivers. Results showed that 128 (46%) caregivers identify diarrhoea as passing watery stool for about 2-3 times in a day, 121 (43.3%) caregivers identify it as a condition where a person has running stomach, 13 (4.4%) caregivers belief that a child has diarrhoea when he can’t eat well due to loss of appetite, and 11(4%) caregiver understand diarrhea as a condition when their kid is experiencing general body weakness. Also, all the caregivers, 100% (130), have heard of ORT. It was concluded that the caregivers have the knowledge of diarrhoea and ORT. Although, small proportion of the populacestill utilizes traditional remedies in treatment of diarrhea, with some preferring salt water as first aid, while majority of the caregivers get their ORS from the clinic.