Maqbool A, Razaque S, Maqbool S, Anwar M.
Knowledge, attitude and practices: diarrhea, ORT and nutrition.
Pak Paed J Jan ;23(1):5-7.

A case control study about knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers pertaining to use of ORT, food faddism and dietary changes during diarrhoea was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. A study sample comprising equal number of cases (N=225) and controls (n=225) was enrolled by convenience sampling. The children included in the study were less than 24 months of age. The information was collected by using standardised predesigned profoma. The majority of infants were less than 1-2 months of age in both study groups. However predominantly males (61.3%) were brought to health facility in cases, compared to more than 64.4% of females in the control group. The control group belonged to better socioeconomic group (OR=1.6p < 0.02) and had higher literacy (OR=6.0, P<0.00). The control group also had better access to media (OR=4, P<0.000). Although mothers of both groups were in favour of the use of ORS in diarrhea (76.9% controls vs 69.7% cases OR=0.78), the mothers of cases were more in favor of increase in home fluids during diarrhoea compared to the control group (OR=2, P= <0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in dietary practices in both groups, both being in favour of decreasing semisolids and solids. This has implications for future media compaigns for messages about management of diarrhea.

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