Knowledge and Behavior of Care-Taker on Prevention of Diarrhoeal Disease in Children

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey research aimed to study the knowledge, behavior of care-takers, and factors related to diarrhoeal disease in children. Samples were 13,383 children aged under 5 years living in communities that were selected by multistage sampling among 12 regions in Thailand. Data had been collected by interviewing care-takers during March 1-April 30, 2005 and analysed using logistic regression analysis. The results showed that the odd of children living with care-takers in municipal area was 1.57 times more likely to suffer with diarrhea than those living with care-takers in non-municipal area (p = 0.004, 95% CI = 1.160-2.125). The likelihood of having diarrhea decreased 40% for children who received breastfeeding (p = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.449-0.791). The likelihood of having diarrhea decreased 64.5% if there was a latrine in the house (p = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.149-0.846). The care-takers had corrected knowledge on three rules for initial treatment only 9.5%; Rule 1: Give the child more fluids than usual to prevent dehydration, Rule 2: Give the child plenty of food to prevent undernutrition, Rule 3: Take the person with diarrhea to the health provider if she/he develops any of the following (does not get better in three days, many watery stools and high fever or looks very sick). These findings suggest that the campaigns of health education and basic knowledge for initial treatment for care-takers, breastfeeding promotion, including improvement of sanitation and latrine were urgently needed.