Bacteriological quality of weaning food and drinking water given to children of market women in Nigeria: implications for control of diarrhoea.

Bacteriological quality of weaning food and drinking water given to 2 groups of children aged < or = years was evaluated by estimating bacterial cell count. One group consisted of those taken to market and the other of those left at home in the care of older siblings or house-helps. Bacterial counts (geometric mean) ranged from 5.02 +/- 1.82 to 8.70 +/- 1.0 log10 cfu per g or mL of food, and from 1.15 +/- 1.67 to 6.53 +/- 0.81 log10 cfu per g or 100 mL of water. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in counts between types of food and between meals (breakfast and lunch). Bacterial contamination increased significantly with storage time, and was, in all circumstances except the water samples, significantly higher in foods given to children left at home. Reheated leftover foods also had significantly higher bacterial load than the freshly-cooked food. Coliform count varied significantly with source of drinking water. Poor hygiene standard (inferred from bacterial contamination) was generally observed among mothers weaning < or = 2-year-old children, while they were engaged in trading activities in the market, thus exposing their children to high risk of diarrhoea. Hygiene was significantly poorer in weaning of children left at home in the care of older siblings or house-helps. This implies that, in spite of their trading activities in the market, mothers still take better care of their babies than the older siblings or house-helps who may be inexperienced. These mothers may need education on childcare and food hygiene to suit to their trading activities, for example, during their monthly meetings. There is also a need to establish ORT (oral rehydration therapy) corners in the markets as part of the municipal services. This can be used not only for efficient and quick management of diarrhoea in the market but also for reinforcing hygiene education.

Perceived causes and management of diarrhoea in young children by market women in Enugu State, Nigeria.

The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of mothers regarding the causes and management of diarrhoea of their children aged 0-24 months. In Enugu State, Nigeria, 80 market women whose children had diarrhoea during last 6 months were interviewed fortnightly. When possible, the children were observed to determine the types of diarrhoea and treatments given. Fifty-three of the women brought their children to market, and 27 left their children at home. Seventy-one percent of the mothers perceived that diarrhoea was caused by teething. The most common types of diarrhoea occurring in these children were watery diarrhoea (59%) and the so-called teething diarrhoea (29%). Dysentery (6%) and jedi jedi or frothy and mucoid stools (4%) occurred less frequently. In 68% of the cases, drugs were used alone or in conjunction with salt-sugar solution (SSS) or other forms of treatment. These drugs were prescribed by medical personnel (40%), patent medicine dealers (23%), or mothers themselves (30%). About 26% and 39% of the mothers treated, respectively, watery and teething diarrhoeas with drugs only, while 23% used SSS alone. The drugs used were mainly antimicrobials (34%) and a combination of antimicrobial, antimalarial, antacid, analgesic, and some local herbal preparations (21%). The results of the study showed the evidence of unnecessary use of drugs and ignorance about their potential adverse effects. These underscore the need for appropriate primary care education among the market women in Nigeria.