Knowledge and practice of caregivers towards diarrhea management among children under five years in Buhweju district, southwestern Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Ariho Paddy Mukama; Herbert  Ainamani; Gershom  Atukunda

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.2107

Authors

Paddy Mukama Ariho Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda
Herbert Ainamani Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda
Gershom Atukunda Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.2107

Keywords:

Knowledge and Practice, Caregivers, Diarrhea Management, Children Under Five Years

Abstract

Introduction

Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death among children under 5 globally. The study objectives were to assess caregivers’ knowledge on the management of diarrhea, examine caregivers’ practices on prevention of diarrhea among children under five years, and factors associated with caregivers’ management of diarrhea among children under five years.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection and analysis. Information was gathered from a sample of 196 caregivers of children under five years using a questionnaire and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Special Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), while thematic analysis was adopted for qualitative data.

Results:

Results indicate that caregivers knew the causes and symptoms of diarrhea among children under five years. Most of the mothers reported using herbs and buying tablets from the nearby clinics to control the situation after detecting diarrhea in their children. Results further found that gender among others [AOR = 2.569; (95% CI: 1.239 - 5.327); p = 0.011], age [AOR = 2.321; (95% CI: 0.129 - 4.797); p = 0.014], level of education [AOR = 1.919; (95% CI: 0.870 - 3.97); p = 0.002], occupation [AOR = 1.930; (95% CI: 0.887 -0.976); p = 0.003], income status [AOR = 0.676; (95% CI: 0.348 - 0.682); p = 0.011], attitude and perception [AOR = 1.221; (95% CI: 0.539 - 0.763); p = 0.032] were some of the factors associated with caregivers’ management of diarrhea among children under five years.

Conclusion:

Income status, religion, and levels of education affect caregivers in the management of diarrhea.

Recommendation:

There is a need to conduct community advocacy on ways of preventing diarrhea among children under five years in rural areas.

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