A Study Of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease In Children Under Five To Determine The Feasibiliy Of Distribubuting Oral Rehydration Salts (unicef Packets) And Health Education Through Organized Women's Groups In Urban Kisumu, In Western Kenya
Abstract
199 women belonging to 9 women's groups and 194 control women were studied in Urban Kisumu between April and September 1985.
The history structure and social functioning of the womens'
groups is fully described .
Their socio-economic status and knowledge, attitudes and
practices (K.A.P.) concerning acute diarrhoeal diseases in
children under 5 years were determined by questionnaire. The
results showed that on average, both economic status and
educational status were higher among the controls than among
the study group. Morbidity, prior to the study, due to acute
diarrhoea was however higher in the control than the study group.
Apart from these variables, the study and control groups were
markedly similar.
In the K.A.P. study) the responses were generally more favourable
in the control than in the study group, though both groups
showed aeceptable responses as regards acute diarrhoeal diseases
in children.
The K.A.P. in the study group improved markedly two months after
the study women were given detailed sessions of Health Education
by the Principal Investigator.
Following the health educatlon, oral rehydratlon therapy (O.R.T.)
was provided through the women group leaders, to those study
group women who needed it for their children.
Although a significantly higher rate of morbidity due to
dehydration from acute diarrhoea in children under 5 years
was recorded in the study compared with the control group,
this was probably attributable to a difference in surveillance
methods.
The rate of seeking medical help from hospital was higher in
the control than the study group. In addition, the average
duration of acute diarrhoea was longer in the control group.
The organization and infrastructure of established women's
groups make them ideal vehicles for O.R.T. popularization
among women not only in Kisumu but in Kenya as a whole.
Citation
Masters of Public HealthPublisher
University of Nairobi