Evaluation of diarrhea management of health professionals trained at the diarrhea training unit of Rawalpindi general hospital

To promote the use of oral rehydration therapy [ORT], a training programme was launched by The Pakistan National Programme for Control of Diarrhoeal Disease [CDD] by establishing the Diarrhoea Training Units [DTUs]. Physicians trained at DTU were designated to establish functioning oral rehydration therapy [ORT] corners at their health centres and train health workers in delivery of facilities on standard diarrhoea case management. The study was designed to evaluate the functioning of ORT corners three years after their establishment. The study revealed that ORT corners have failed to achieve the main objectives of DTU programme. Twenty-four out of 49 ORT corners were non-functional after three years of their establishment, mainly due to frequent transfers of trained staff. In 22 ORT corners evaluated, performance of health professionals was far from satisfactory, 19 out of 22 doctors were found to have inadequate performance in diarrhoea management and only 3 out of 7 LHVs performed adequately. LHVs could not consistently deliver health education messages to mothers. There seems to be a lack of interest and willingness to participate actively, as more than 50% of both doctors and LHVs did not consider ORT work as their job. We conclude that the ultimate objectives of improved and appropriate diarrhoea case management through ORT corners have not been achieved

Behavioural problems in epileptic children

Behavioural problems commonly occur in association with epilepsy and it has been generally observed that behaviour disturbances are the most frequent cause of psychiatric referral for epileptic children. This paper described the nature and extent of such disorders in a sample of 50 epileptic children. The data about behaviour disturbances were collected by using Rutter's questionnaire. The results are discussed with special reference to the practical implications of these findings in the assessment and management as well as in relation to some of the common factors associated with the aetiology of these disorders

Demographic profile of children with severe diarrhoea

Diarrhea in one of the most important killer disease in children. Role of environment can not be denied in the occurrence, control and prevention of this disease. 30 mothers of children with severe diarrhea were interviewed and it was established that Demographic Profile of the family along with unhygienic conditions was a leading cause for the severity of the disease

Practices of mothers on children with diarrhoea

Sixty mothers of children suffering from diarrhea were interviewed regarding the methods they had been using for its treatment. Reveal that more than 60% of mothers went for different systems of medical care presently being practiced in Pakistan. Indigenous beliefs and practices play a vital role and seem to be most popular