Knowledge and practice of oral rehydration therapy in a village in Gazankulu after the introduction of the Morley spoon.
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is effective in preventing dehydration during acute gastro-enteritis, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. There is, however, reluctance among mothers and child-minders to use ORT when faced with the crisis of acute diarrhoea. This study describes the effects of a health education campaign, using the Morley (sugar and salt) spoon, on knowledge and practice of ORT in one community in Gazankulu, and compares care group (CG) with non-care group (non-CG) members. Two years after its introduction, the Morley spoon was still the most commonly used method of preparing oral rehydration solution (ORS). Ninety-seven per cent of CG members could produce the spoon when asked to, as opposed to 55% of non-CG members (P less than 0.001). Eighty-two per cent of respondents had actually used ORT in the past. Fifty-three per cent mixed the ORS incorrectly. Sixty-one per cent believed that ORT would stop diarrhoea and 29% that it was used for rehydration. Only 26% would give ORS after every loose stool, but 54% would give ORT until the diarrhoea has stopped. Fifty-nine per cent of women would feed their children soft porridge, 20% would continue breast-feeding, and 2% would starve the child while it had diarrhoea. Women who had retained the Morley spoon showed a greater knowledge of ORT (P less than 0.005) and had used ORT more often in the past (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
de Swardt
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R
Department of Community Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Ijsselmuiden
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CB
D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000592:standards; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa
D015532:Rehydration Solutions