Imran Shaikh.
Role of primary healthcare and innovative strategies in improving knowledge and practice of mothers regarding diarrhoeal diseases in a squatter settlement of Karachi.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;15(2):105.

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of females regarding diarrhoeal diseases in a squatter settlement with a population of approximately 20,000. The survey was conducted among the family assignment houses in Block-A and from houses in Block-B which were not part of the family assignment. A total of 42 women were selected from Block-A and 24 from Block-B. The average number of children for married women in the two blocks was 5.5 ± 2.8 and 4.1 ± 3.2 (p=0.07) respectively. There was also no difference for the mean age of the youngest child i.e. 3.4 ± 1.1 and 2.8 ± 1.3 years respectively (p=0.54). The majority of women in both blocks defined diarrhoea as watery stools (consistency) and not according to the frequency of stools. A greater proportion of women from Block-A (67%) took their children to the doctor in case of diarrhoea as compared to 48% in Block-B (p=0.048). Most of the women in both blocks knew about ORS (76% and 88% respectively) and usually obtained it from medical stores. The use of ORS was more in Block-A (43%) as compared to 20% in Block-B (p=0.01). The knowledge regarding the correct amount of water (i.e. 4 glasses) used to make a packet of ORS was the same in both blocks (74% vs 75%). There was little knowledge regarding home made Sugar Salt Solution (SSS). From Block-A 16 (38%) of the women and 6 (25%) from Block-B identified salt as an ingredient. Regarding the use of sugar in one glass of water 16 (38%) women from Block-A and 6 (25%) from Block-B identified sugar as a component but most of them were using less than 2 teaspoons of sugar. The duration for which an ORS solution can be used was correctly identified by 50% of the women in Block-A and 67% in Block-B (p=0.06).

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