ABSTRACT
To evaluate the community knowledge about diarrheal causes in children and use of ORS as initial management tool. A descriptive cross sectional study. The study was conducted in the outpatient department of Railway hospital from July 15 to September 15,2011. Total 150 mothers were included in the study with inclusion criteria of having at least one child of less than five years of age. A pretested study questionnaire was admitted to the respondents duly filled by the researcher along with the in-depth interview The result obtained through the study were then categorized into the causes related to digestive system, food contamination and use of hot and cold. Results were analyzed on SPSS 13.0. Out of 150 mothers included in the study, 30% believed contaminated food and water cause diarrhea where as 18% viewed infections such as bacterial or viral to be the cause. A large percentage i.e. 22% could not associate any cause to the occurrence of diarrhoea.69% continued the breast feeding and normal feeding during the disease but 31% discontinued the treatment and replaced it with rice water, yogurt juices and mineral water available in local markets. This study demonstrated that majority of mothers believed childhood diarrhea is caused by contamination of food and water with the bacterial and viral illness