AWARENESS, PERCEPTION, AND ATTITUDE TOWARD ORAL REHYDRATION SALT SOLUTION, AMONG THE PARENTS IN MANAGEMENT OF AWD IN CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Dr. Rifat Taher Anne*, Dr. Shamima Sharmin Shova, Dr. Tasnuva Sharmin and Dr. Tamanna Bahar

ABSTRACT

Background: Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of child mortality globally. The scientific basis of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) has restructured the concept and management of diarrhea. The success of oral rehydration solutions highly depends on the awareness and attitude of parents. Objective: This study was done to assess the awareness, perception and attitude of parents of under-five children regarding the management of diarrhea with ORS in rural areas of Bangladesh. Methodology: It was an observational cross-sectional study carried in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) corner of Upazila Health Complex, Boalkhali, Chittagong. Here the parents of under-five acute watery diarrheal patients attended between January 2015 to December 2016. A total of 350 cases were included. Result: More than half of the parents 195(55.71%) belonged to the age-group of 18-25 years. The majority of 145(41.43%) of the patients belonged to age 13-24 months. Most of the parents 344(98.28%) heard about ORS. One hundred seventy(48.57%) mentioned correctly about the procedure of preparing ORS. One hundred fifty-seven (44.86%) parents mentioned that ORS used for the replacement of fluid lost during diarrhea, 210(60.0%) mentioned every time the child had loose stool ORS solution should be administered to a child with diarrhea. More than one third 133(38.0%) of respondents mentioned that the prepared ORS solution could be kept for 12 hours and 294(84%) believed that ORS is useful in the management of diarrhea. Conclusion: There is a need to educate parents of diarrhea patients to improve clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Acute Watery Diarrhea, ORS, Parents' awareness and attitude, IMCI.