Knowledge; attitudes and practices of mothers and health workers in relation to the use of sugar and salt solution in Masvingo Province

A total of 257 mothers out of 300 claimed that they knew about sugar and salt solution. Amongst the mothers who claimed that on a recalled episode of diarrhoea; they gave SSS 63 were from the urban areas; 81 from the rural areas and 71 from the farming compounds. More mothers than expected in the rural and farming areas claimed to have used SSS as the first line of action when a child had diarrhoea; than those in the urban areas. [abstract terminated]

Knowledge; attitudes and practices of mothers and health workers in relation to the use of sugar and salt solution in Masvingo Province

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: 1. A total of 257 mothers out of 300 claimed that they knew about sugar and salt solution. 2. Amongst the mothers who claimed that on a recalled episode of diarrhoea; they gave SSS 63 were from the urban areas; 81 from the rural areas and 71 from the farming compounds. More mothers than expected in the rural and farming areas claimed to have used SSS as the first line of action when a child had diarrhoea; than those in the urban areas. 3. The mean sodium concentrations of the solutions prepared by mothers in the rural; urban and farming areas were 20;56 mmoll; 19;56mmol L ; and 39;62 mmol L respectively. The means were all significantly lower than the standard sodium concentration (80 mmoll). The mean sucrose concentrations for the same solutions from the rural and farming compounds were 76;35 mmoll; 56;19 mmoll and 69;24 mmol respectively. They were not significantly different from the recommended sucrose concentration (80mmoll) 4. Of the mothers who claimed that they gave a whole 750ml bottle of the solution per day 60 were from the rural areas; 72 were from the urban areas anf 77from the farming areas. 5. The commonest frequencies with which SSS is administered to the child with diarrhoea by mothers are after every loose stool and whenever the child wants water (on demand). A few mothers 25 out of 300 claimed to give SSS three times a day that is a teaspoon in the morning; one in the afternoon and the third in the evening. 6. All the health workers from the three study areas claimed that they advised mothers to use SSS on the onset of an episode of diarrhoea. All the health workers except 2 in the farming areas said that they demonstrated the preparation of SSS. There seems to be elements of uniformity in the health education message from health workers