RESUMO
Background: Diarrhea is second major killer disease for children less than 5 year of age; and maternal lack of sound knowledge and related correct practices inn this regard conflicts with WHO treatment guidelines for diarrhea. Objective: 1) to assess the level of maternal knowledge and practices regarding prevention and management of diarrhea at home; in children below five year of age 2) to identify association between maternal knowledge and practices regarding prevention and care of diarrhea at home. Materials & Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted in three tertiary level hospitals of Lahore selected randomly. Study population was mothers having children less than 5 year of age coming to pediatric Outdoor in these hospitals. Calculated sample size was 296; and non-probability purposive sampling technique used to recruit the sample. Data was collected from 300 respondents; study instrument was KAP questionnaire adopted and modified and data was taken upon the variables of knowledge and practice. Data analysis plan was: descriptive statistics for all variables, Bivariate analysis upon knowledge and practice scores, Pearson Correlation upon the two variable scores. Results: 61.7% respondents had good knowledge score, whereas 32% and 6.3% had average and poor score respectively. 39.3% were found to have good practice score, whereas 54% and 6.7% were found to have average and poor practice level score. Highly significant association (P- 0.000) was found between knowledge and practice levels; and Pearson correlation of 43.8% was found between the two variables. Conclusion: Health education communication should be conducted by health care workers so as to give the right knowledge about ORS intake and its preparation; and adoption of correct dietary practices by the mothers during diarrheal episode of the child.