Evaluating the management of diarrhoea in health centres in Mozambique.
An evaluation of the health centre management of paediatric cases of diarrhoea, comprising observation of the consultation, interview of the guardian immediately afterwards and home follow-up was performed in one rural and three urban areas of Mozambique. Oral Rehydration Therapy was advised for 83% of patients, of whom 71% received ORS packets. Eighty-seven per cent of mothers followed up stated that they had given ORT, but only 37% had a solution present at the time of interview. The main weakness in case management was the lack of health education, especially about the quantity of fluid to give, which was reflected in the mothers' belief that ORT is a medicine to 'stop the diarrhoea' and their consequent administration of it like a syrup, one teaspoonful three times a day. The results of the evaluation have facilitated the design of more appropriate health education and health worker training materials and methods.
Cutts
F
F
Cliff
J
J
Reiss
R
R
Stuckey
J
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000628:therapy*; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009073:Mozambique; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012107:Research Design