Journal of diarrhoeal diseases research
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J Diarrhoeal Dis Res · Sep 1998
Diarrhoea in children of Nigerian market women: prevalence, knowledge of causes, and management.
A cross-sectional survey was carried out among mothers of children aged less than five years in two markets in Ibadan, one with poor environmental sanitation and the other clean and well maintained. The study took place between September 1996 and March 1997. The questionnaire used for this survey sought information about the occurrence of diarrhoea among children aged less than five years, their mothers' knowledge about the management of diarrhoea and their practices, including care-seeking practices, and the use of oral rehydration solutions. ⋯ When their children had diarrhoea, 44% (Bodija) and 40% (Gbagi) of the mothers attended health centres, 33% (Bodija) and 32% (Gbagi) gave ORT at home, and 12% (Bodija) and 19% (Gbagi) purchased drugs at a chemist. The study further showed that, while only one-third of all respondents resorted to home-treatment of diarrhoea with ORS, more than 80% of them knew the components and composition of ORS solution. There is a need to continue to encourage mothers to use ORS and, thus, bridge the knowledge-practice gap in mothers' management of diarrhoea at home.
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J Diarrhoeal Dis Res · Mar 1996
Knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescribing pattern of oral rehydration therapy among private practitioners in Nigeria.
To 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%). ⋯ 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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From 1982 the Ministry of Health of Egypt implemented the National Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases Project (NCDDP) which attempted to improve case management of childhood diarrhoea by making oral rehydration salts (ORS) widely available and used, to improve feeding patterns during diarrhoea, and other measures. National data indicate a high level of success in achieving the targets. ⋯ Consequently, in 1988 the area was revisited to examine subsequent changes. Findings showed marked improvement in case management of diarrhoea and rapid mortality decline, with diarrhoeal mortality apparently declining somewhat faster than mortality from other causes.
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J Diarrhoeal Dis Res · Jun 1992
Viral agents associated with infantile gastroenteritis in Nigeria: relative prevalence of adenovirus serotypes 40 and 41, astrovirus, and rotavirus serotypes 1 to 4.
Sixty-six stool specimens from infants with diarrhoea in Nigeria were examined for the presence of viral pathogens. Rotaviruses were found in 25.8% of specimens and astroviruses in 1.5%. ⋯ No enteric adenoviruses were detected. In contrast, in a parallel study conducted in the UK, rotaviruses (including serotypes 1, 2 and 4) accounted for 21.9% of infections, adenovirus serotypes 40 and 41 13.6%, and astroviruses 4.5%.
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J Diarrhoeal Dis Res · Sep 1990
ReviewRole of breast-feeding in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea.
Recent studies have again shown the beneficial effects of breast-feeding in preventing morbidity and mortality from diarrhoea in infants. A case-control study in Brazil has shown that young infants who are not breast-fed have a 25-time greater risk of dying of diarrhoea than those who are exclusively breast-fed. A longitudinal study in the urban slums of Lima, Peru found that exclusively breast-fed infants have a reduced risk of diarrhoeal morbidity when compared with infants receiving only water in addition to breast-milk. ⋯ Programmes also need to include breast-feeding promotion as a part of their activities. This should comprise hospital practices supporting and ensuring breast-feeding immediately after delivery of the infants and subsequently while they are treated in the hospital: immediate breast-feeding after delivery; Mothers and infants rooming together; On demand breast-feeding; No bottle feedings of water or infant formula; No pre-lacteal feeds. In addition, health professionals need to understand the skills for the management of breast-feeding, so that mothers are given appropriate advice on how to breast-feed and counteract breast-feeding problems.