ABSTRACT
Background: Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in under 5 children of Ethiopia. Millions of young lives could be saved if mothers know and practice the three rules of diarrhea management: giving extra fluid (particularly oral rehydration salt [ORS]), zinc, and giving additional food during diarrhea illness. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine mothers'/caregivers' Knowledge, Practice, and associated factors toward ORS with zinc to treat diarrhea among under 5 children in Burayu town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 study participants from September 25 to October 10, 2022; in Burayu town, Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling technique was used to enroll study subjects from two randomly selected kebeles. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-info version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS Version 21 for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with knowledge and practice of ORS with zinc at p < 0.05% and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The findings showed that 59% and 52% of the respondents had good knowledge and practice toward ORS with zinc, respectively. Being housewives (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.407, 95% CI: [0.195, 0.848]), primary education (AOR = 3.246, 95% CI: [1.614, 6.530]), income of >4000 (AOR = 5.132, 95% CI: [1.947, 13.524]), health seeking behavior (AOR = 0.369, 95% CI: [0.139, 0.979]), being divorced (AOR = 0.275, 95% CI: [0.09,0.842]) were found to be significantly associated with knowledge toward management of diarrhea with ORS and zinc. Housewives in occupation (AOR = 0.084, 95% CI: [0.029, 0.243]), secondary and above education (AOR = 6.26: 95% CI: [1.51, 25.86]), health seeking behavior (AOR = 6.885, 95% CI: [2.29, 20.67]), having good knowledge of ORS and zinc (AOR = 22.14, 95% CI: [8.44, 58.07]) were found to be significantly associated with practice of managing diarrhea with ORS and zinc. Conclusion: This study revealed low level of knowledge and practice of caregivers toward ORS with zinc. The more mothers/caregivers are knowledgeable, the more they are active to practice the use of ORS with zinc. Thus, health education and awareness creation for the mothers/caregivers on management of diarrhea is very crucial. Special attention should be given to enhancing income for mothers/caregivers.
