Abstract:

Diarrhoea has been and is still one of the highest threats to the lives of children below five years. According to millennium development goal, the fourth goal aims at reducing child mortality and morbidity to 2/3 from 1990 to 2015. Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death among children under five years globally [Adimoraet al (2011)]. Nearly one in five child deaths, about 1.5 million each year, are due to diarrhea [Ansari et al (2011)]. Northern Cameroon estimated approximately 18500 diarrhoea episodes and 3696 RVA-associated child mortality occurred in Cameroon annually (Parasharet al, 2003). Many children under five who come to that hospital suffer from diarrhea they have been a steady rise ain the prevalence of diarrhoea among children under five in Cameroon and word (WHO 2004). Therefore, this study aims at assessing the knowledge and practices of mothers on home management of diarrhea in under five.

The descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to assess the knowledge, and practices of the mother in the home management of diarrhea. Targets were mothers in home management of diarrhea in children (0-5 years) who came in IWC, ANC units at the Nkwen Medicalised Health Center within the period of study. The instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire, Microsoft Excel 2010 was used for analysis and data presented on tables, pie charts, histograms and Bar charts.

The current study revealed that mothers have inadequate knowledge on home management of diarrhoea 90(60%). They had negative practices towards the home management of diarrhoea and the use of ORS/zinc tablets as recommended by WHO was very low (29%) as compared to the use of drugs and traditional medicine. According to USAID and Experts worldwide (2002), success in the reduction of deaths and illnesses due to diarrhoea in childhood depends on the acceptance of the scientific basis and benefits of ORT by governments and medical communities.

There is need to educate mothers on home management of diarrhea using scientific bases to reduce infant mortality from diarrhea.

Keywords: knowledge and practices, diarrhea, under five children.

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