Caregivers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Prevention of Diarrhoea in Children Under Five Years in Soweto Namuwongo.

Abstract

Introduction This study investigated caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on prevention of diarrhoea in children under five years in Soweto, Namuwongo. The study particularly sought to assess caregivers' knowledge and attitude, because they dominantly influence their practices in the prevention of diarrhoea in children under five years; which preventive measures can greatly reduce the incidences of diarrhoea episodes. The study was conceived due to the fact that diarrhoea is a disease burden in Uganda and has been neglected as more focus and facilitation is availed to HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Furthermore, preventive practices too have been neglected.

General Objective To determine caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Soweto Namuwongo between August and September 2012.

Methodology The study was conducted through a cross-sectional study design. Data was collected in August 2012, using a researcher administered questionnaire and interview techniques from 217 caregivers selected using one-way cluster sampling method from the accessible population. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and univariate methods and presented in tables and figures.

Results The study established that more than half, that is to say, 58.06% (126) had low level of knowledge on prevention of diarrhoea in children under five years, as they could only give less than two ways of preventing diarrhoea. In the second objective the study further revealed that more than half 55.3% (120) of the caregivers strongly agreed that it was normal for their children to get diarrhoea regularly. The study revealed that 80% (174) caregivers did not have a hand washing bay near their latrines thus they did not practice hand washing adequately. Also worth noting is that 67.3% of the caregivers reported that one of their children under five years had an episode of diarrhoea in the last two weeks towards the study.

Conclusion The study concludes that caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards prevention of diarrhoea was not satisfactory. The low levels of knowledge, negative attitudes and poor preventive practices, led to increase of diarrhoea prevalence in children under five years.

Recommendations The study recommends that there is need to revive community sensitization, as this would empower the caregivers with children under five years and the community at large with knowledge which would influence their attitudes thus better preventive practices. Village health teams (VHTs) who represent health centre one should be empowered with information and facilitation so that they can be able to provide continuous education to caregivers in the community. The research finally recommended more vigilant public health assessments and surveillance, government support through relevant policies, laws and adequate funding to facilitate communities for example infrastructure for waste removal, building of latrines and urban planning to reduce overcrowding.