The goal of a recent study published in Tropical Doctor was to ascertain maternal knowledge and practices concerning childhood diarrhea.

This was a cross-sectional study that recruited 280 mothers with children, aged 2-59 months, with acute watery diarrhea, from a tertiary hospital. 

The findings revealed that one-fifth of the participants were illiterate and only one-third of the mothers pre-treated water to make it drinkable. Moreover, the mean knowledge scores for hand washing, diarrhea prevention and complications of diarrhea were poor, though higher in educated mothers. While the scores were similar for the first episode or repeat episodes of diarrhea. It was noted that only 50.4% and 55.2% mothers knew the correct method of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) preparation and administration, respectively. 

It was inferred that there exists a lackof adequate maternal knowledge and practices concerning childhood diarrhea. Therefore, there is need for patient counselling and education, especially among the illiterate in India.

Source: 2018 Oct;48(4):298-300. doi: 10.1177/0049475518787425.