EFFECTS OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS ABOUT DIARRHOEA AND ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY IN TWO HOSPITALS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several studies in Nigeria show that most mothers are aware of oral rehydration therapy but do not know the proper method of preparing the salt sugar solution, SSS. Many use medicines to treat diarrhoea. False beliefs about the causes of diarrhoea abound among them. This study aimed at finding out the effects of health education on knowledge, beliefs and practices of mothers about diarrhoea and oral rehydration therapy in Akwa Ibom State.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was a controlled community intervention conducted among pregnant women in 2 hospitals selected by simple cluster sampling from the three group reference hospitals in the state. General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene was the study centre while St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua was the control centre. Selection basis was the high monthly antenatal attendance of women in these hospitals. A semi structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Study period was three months.
RESULTS: A total of 502 women were interviewed. There were 252 (50.19%) in the study group and 250 (49.80%) in the control group. Result showed that most women were aware of the salt sugar solution, with 224 (88.0%) in the study group and 230 (92.0%) in the control group. Baseline knowledge about diarrhoea and oral rehydration therapy was poor in the study group with a mean score of 5+4.0 and was fair in the control group with a mean score of 8 +3.16. After intervention with health education, there was a statistically significant improvement in knowledge (x2 = 79.806, df = 8, P = 0.000), beliefs (x2=8.884, df =3, P=0.000) and practices (x2=147.069, df=11,P=0.000)
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about diarrhoea and oral rehydration therapy in the study group. In the control group where no health education was given, there was no statistically significant improvement in knowledge (x2=5.664, df = 3, p=0.192), beliefs (x2=5.664, df=3,P=0.192) and practices (x2=28.712, df = 11, p=0.073) at the end of the study.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Intervention with health education significantly improved knowledge, beliefs and practices of respondents about diarrhoea and oral rehydration therapy. It is therefore recommended that health education should be conducted regularly on pregnant women. Nurses in antenatal clinics should be trained and retrained on oral rehydration therapy and the causes of diarrhoea.

EFFECTS OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS ABOUT DIARRHOEA AND ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY IN TWO HOSPITALS IN AKWA IBOM STATE