Knowledge, attitude and perception of mothers of under-five towards vaccination during supplementary immunization activities in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Supplementary immunization activities campaigns provide children with an additional dose of vaccine and deliver other interventions. However, there is dearth of information on knowledge, attitude and perception of mothers of under-five towards vaccination during supplementary immunization activities. A descriptive cross-sectional study which employed multistage sampling technique was designed to fill this gap. Four wards were randomly selected from eleven wards in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area and houses were enumerated from the selected wards, systematic random sampling was used to select houses and then respondents. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on three hundred and five respondents. Knowledge scores of ≤4, 5-8, and ≥ 9 were rated poor, fair and good, respectively. Attitude scores of ≤5 and >5 was rated negative and positive attitude, respectively while perception scores ≤4 and >4 were rated negative and positive perception, respectively. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 25 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 5% level of significance. The mean age of respondents was 30.6±6.1years, the highest level of education for most (68.5%) was secondary school. Their mean parity and number of under-five were 2.5±1.4 and 1.2±0.4, respectively. Knowledge was generally poor, more than half (53.1%) had poor knowledge, majority (88.2%) have positive attitude while 84.6% have a positive perception. One-fourth (24.6%) and one-fifth are of the opinion that frequent vaccination will make the vaccine ineffective and overload immune system, respectively. There was generally poor knowledge of supplementary immunizations and mothers need to be educated on the importance.

Effect of Health Education on Malaria Control Practices among Mothers of Under-Five Children in a Rural Nigerian Community

Background/Purpose:Malaria is an established health challenge and a major cause of mortality and morbidity among under-five children in Nigeria. This community-based study was designed to assess the effect ofhealth education packages on the malaria control practices of mothers of under-five children in Ibeagwa Nike Enugu State.Methods:The study utilized a quasi-experimental study design with a sample size of 124 mothers that attended the infant welfare clinic at the community health center and those that received treatment of minor childhood illnesses for six months. A multistage random sampling technique was used in choosing the required samples. The instrument for the collection of data was a self-adapted and validated questionnaire. Reliability was assessed and yielded a Cronbach’s correlation coefficient of 0.823. Data generatedwere summarized using simple descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages and analyzed using Fishers’ exact test and Chi-square. Results:Findings of the study showed that: the practice of malaria control practices was very low below 40% before health education intervention; malaria control practices increased significantly above 40% after the health education intervention; hindrances to the practice of malaria control measures reduced after the health education intervention; there is poor awareness of environmental hygiene as a method of malaria control measure before health education.Conclusion:Periodic health education on the importance of malaria control practices should be conducted in the community regularly, to promote control of malaria

How knowledgeable and practicable are the mothers of under five children in urban slum, Tamil Nadu on: utilization of ORS, homemade fluids and feeding practices during acute diarrhoeal diseases

Background: Globally, acute diarrhoea claims around 1.5 million lives of under-five children. In India, ADD accounts for 8% of deaths in <5yrs age group. Child may be pushed into an irreversible outcome as stunting because of inadequate nutrition and repeated bouts of infection during the first 1000 days of life. Oral rehydration therapy is the most effective treatment intervention which can avert about 14% of deaths in under five children. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 270 mothers of under five children from our urban health centre service area of PSGIMSR. Results: Among 270 mothers of under five children most of them belonged to the age group of ≤25 years. Only 10.7% of the mothers were aware that infection or germs cause diarrhea, signs of dehydration were not known by 80% of mothers. Mothers’ with more than one child and mothers with education more than 8th class were emerged as the factors affecting ORS preparation. Conclusions: The knowledge on diarrhoea was low. Although awareness regarding spread of diarrhoea and ORS was adequate in this community, knowledge regarding continuation of feeding and signs of dehydration were deficient. Thus educating the mothers of under-five children regarding correct practices of home management of diarrhoea is likely to further reduce diarrhoea morbidity and mortality.

Diarrhea Treatment Behaviour among Mothers of Under-five Children Attending Primary Health Care Clinic in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Aims: Diarrhoea is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among children under the age of five years. This study assessed diarrhea treatment behaviour among mothers of under-five attending Ibadan north local government Primary Health Care clinic, Oyo state. Study Design: The survey design was adopted for the study. Primary data was collected from the participants. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Ibadan north local government Primary Health Care clinic, Oyo state, Nigeria in 2015. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 370 women randomly selected for the study. Data gathered included socio-demographic, knowledge, treatment behavior, home preparation and use of oral rehydration solution (ORS). Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics and results presented in frequency tables. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 17) was used for all analyses. Results: Results obtained from the study showed that the majority of the women were traders (35%), Christians (54%), between the ages of 20 and 30 (61%), married (67%) with children below 3 years of age (54%) and indicated that they have had previous births (51%). Most of the respondents had up to secondary education (75%) and indicated that they experience diarrhoea episodes with their children frequently (55%). almost all the women (98%) have heard of diarrhoea and the major source of information was the health workers. Knowledge analysis showed that the respondents have inadequate knowledge regarding causes and prevention measures for diarrhoea. However, 87% of the mothers knew that watery stool is a sign of diarrhea in children and 62% agreed that they gave their children ORS to drink each time they have episodes of diarrhoea. The most common treatment behaviour among the respondents (92% of respondents) was seeking medical attention from hospital during persistent diarrhoeal episode. Further results showed that respondents have inadequate knowledge of preparation and administration of ORS. Conclusion: In conclusion this research showed that there is still a knowledge gap as regards preventive healthcare behaviour in the study area. The need for corroborative post-natal child healthcare education to strengthen the efforts of the healthcare service providers in fighting diarrhoea is thus recommended.

Breastfeeding Practices of mothers of under five years old children in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia: A descriptive cross sectional-community based survey.

Background: Improved breastfeeding practices can help in preventing diarrheal diseases and malnutrition. In Ethiopia, children are still suffering from diarrheal diseases and malnutrition. Aims & Objective: This study was aimed at assessing mothers’ breastfeeding practices in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted by involving of 415 mothers. The study was conducted from April 15 to May 15, 2011. Three kebeles (the smallest administrative level) from Bahir Dar city were selected randomly. The sample was determined by using single population proportion formula and proportionally distributed to the selected kebeles according to population size. To be eligible to participate in the study, mothers had to live in households that had children under five years of age. Households were selected by systematic sampling method. Mothers were interviewed in their homes using a structured questionnaire that had been pre-tested. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Odds ratio was calculated with 95% confidence intervals; P-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Data were collected from 415 mothers. Breast-feeding was practiced by 400(96.4%) of all respondents. Two hundred seventy eight (69.5%) mothers reported initiating breast-feeding within one hour of delivery. One hundred thirty four (33.5%) of mothers reported feeding colostrum to their infants. The main reasons for not giving colostrum included the belief that colostrum is unclean was reported by 30 (22.4%) mothers, colostrum makes the newborn sick by 58 (43.3%) mothers and that withholding colostrum initiates breast milk production by 46 (34.3%) mothers One hundred and nine (26.3%) of mothers reported giving pre lacteal feeds to their infants. About 325 (78.3%) of mothers reported that they had heard information about exclusive breastfeeding but only 172(41.4%) had appropriate knowledge. One hundred and thirty three (38.1%) mothers substituted breast milk before the child reaching six months of age. Mothers’ educational status, Antenatal care (ANC) follow up during pregnancy, availability of television in the household and place of delivery were significantly associated with feeding colostrum to the infant (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of ever breastfeeding was almost universal but still mothers had gaps about early initiation of breastfeeding, giving the first milk for their newborns and exclusive breastfeeding. Therefore information regarding optimal breastfeeding practices should be provided for mothers and local health extension workers. An effort should also be made to increase community awareness about the importance of optimal breastfeeding for the child growth and development.