| Summary: | M.MED- Family Medicine === Background
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) has been used for many decades, and its usefulness in
the management of dehydration caused by diarrhoea is well established. On the other
hand, childhood mortality from diarrhoea, is reportedly high in most developing
countries. Improved case management of children with diarrhoea, adequate maternal
and caregiver’s knowledge on correct preparation, administration and use of oral
rehydration solution, are seen as important interventions that could assist in
addressing the problem.
Aim and Objectives
The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and skills of mothers and caregivers in
the preparation and use of Salt Sugar Solution (SSS) at Mofolo Community Health
Centre (CHC), Soweto. The study objectives were as follows:
1. To determine the proportion of caregivers that had ever-been-taught how to
prepare SSS.
2. To assess knowledge of mothers and caregivers’ on the correct use of SSS,
including signs of dehydration and danger signs in the Integrated Management
of Childhood Illness (IMCI).
3. To determine the proportion of caregivers who demonstrate correct
preparation of SSS.
Method
The study was conducted in the well-baby and general clinic of Mofolo Community
Health Centre in Soweto where 407 mothers and caregivers were conveniently
sampled, interviewed and asked to practically demonstrate how they prepare SSS. The
proportion of mothers and caregivers who were: a) ever-taught; b) knew how to
correctly prepare SSS; had the new road to health card and knew signs of dehydration
were determined. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between
demographic characteristics and the main outcome measure, (correct preparation of
SSS). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the strengths of associations
of different variables in relation to the outcome variable (correct preparation of SSS).
Results
Only 21% of mothers and caregivers could correctly prepare SSS. Less than half
(45.7%) had the new road to health card containing correct preparation instructions.
Only 7.6% of the 45.7% with the new road to health card, demonstrated how to
correctly prepare SSS. A small proportion (2%) of participants said they were never
taught how to prepare SSS, while, 55.6% had been taught by healthcare workers. In
the category of household income, the largest group, 25.3% of participants had an
income between South African Rands (R) 1000 and 2999. Male participants were
only 4.9%. About 79% of participants knew at least one sign of dehydration. The chisquare
test was used to determine the main outcome measure, which was correct
preparation of SSS and demographic factors. Factors associated with correct
preparation of SSS were; a) number of teaching sessions received, p-value = 0.0001;
b) teaching done by healthcare worker, p-value = 0.0001; c) perceived knowledge of
mothers or caregiver on how to correctly prepare SSS, p-value = 0.015; and d)
number of children in the household, p-value = 0.011.
Conclusion
Overall, 79% of mothers and caregivers did not correctly prepare SSS, despite 97% of
participants agreeing to having been taught how to prepare SSS. Over half (55.6%) of
mothers and caregivers were taught by healthcare worker, however, incorrect SSS use
in over half (57.8%) of mothers and caregivers as well as inability to recognize at
least one sign of dehydration gave credence to general poor knowledge and use of
SSS which is a threat to management of diarrhoeal diseases and overall child
mortality and morbidity. === MT2017
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