RESUMEN
Objective: to determine the knowledge and practices of the mothers regarding management of acute respiratory tract infections in children below 5 years of age
Material and Methods: respondents were residents of a rural community. It was a descriptive, epidemiological study. 250 mothers with at least one child below 5 years of age who suffered from at least one episode of ARI were interviewed with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed with the help of Epi info statistical program
Results: among the mothers interviewed, 90% mothers were below 35 years of age, 54.8% were illiterate and 72% mothers belonged to nuclear families, 89.2% had 1-2 children below the age of 5 years. Among the children between 12 to 59 months, 64.24% were completely vaccinated. The symptoms identified by the mothers included cough in 68.4%, running nose in 22.2%, fever in 50%, blocked nose in 11.2%, sore throat in 9.2% and difficulty in breathing in 23.2%. Whistling was present in 34.4%, earache in 9.2%, ear discharge in 21.2%and chest indrawing was present in 31 .2%. 44.4% mothers considered difficult breathing as a dangerous symptom, 40.3% mothers considered whistling as dangerous and 33.1 % mothers considered chest in-drawing as dangerous sign. The main causes of ARI as described by the mothers included "exposure to cold" by 73.2% "intake of sour or cold food" by 0.4%, "after bathing" by 17.6%, and, 0.4% "due to germs" by 16%, "evil eye" 3.2% and "change of weather" by 2.0%. 62.4% mothers consulted private doctors and 10.8% mothers consulted government health facility for treatment while 11 .6% mothers used various types of home remedies like 55.17% used Joshanda, 86.22%used Vicks vaporub, 20.68% honey, 31.03% soanf [aniseed] water and 41 .38% gave tea. 62.07% kept the child warm and 6.87% gave eggs to their children, Urq by 27.59% and brandy by 24.13%. 76% mothers consulted a qualified doctor for ARI treatment. The mothers who did not consult doctor for ARI treatment, 55% reasoned that illness was minor, 8.3% blamed lack of time etc. Among the mothers belonging to families with 9 or more family members, with 4+ children and with income per month Rs. 3000 or below, a statistically significant association was observed with using home remedy
Conclusion: these results indicate that mothers are the main decision makers regarding the management of the diseased children and there is strong need for a comprehensive health education program for the parents especially the mothers