• J Diarrhoeal Dis Res · Mar 1996

    Knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescribing pattern of oral rehydration therapy among private practitioners in Nigeria.

    • T A Okeke, H U Okafor, A C Amah, C N Onwuasigwe, and A C Ndu.
    • Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
    • J Diarrhoeal Dis Res. 1996 Mar 1;14(1):33-6.

    AbstractTo determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) among private medical practitioners in Enugu, Nigeria, 91 doctors were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All the doctors had heard of ORT and believed in its efficacy. The commonest source of information on ORT was the medical school (44%). Fifty percent would recommend salt-sugar solution (SSS) rather than oral rehydration solution (ORS). The main reason is its cost-effectiveness and easy availability. Only 55% of the respondents knew how to prepare SSS correctly. The percentage of doctors who prescribe smooth muscle relaxant (spasmolytic use rate) was 41%, and the commonest reason for its use was to reduce bowel movement. The influence of year of medical graduation on spasmolytic use was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Antibiotics were commonly used, although most (76%) doctors believed that viral infections were a common cause of childhood diarrhoea. All the respondents would recommend continued breastfeeding during diarrhoeal episodes. The study revealed a high rate of inappropriate drug use and a deficiency in the knowledge and practice of ORT.

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