title: Knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescribing pattern of oral rehydration therapy among private practitioners in Nigeria.
abstract: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) among private medical practitioners in Enugu, Nigeria, 91 doctors were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All the doctors had heard of ORT and believed in its efficacy. The commonest source of information on ORT was the medical school (44%). Fifty percent would recommend salt-sugar solution (SSS) rather than oral rehydration solution (ORS). The main reason is its cost-effectiveness and easy availability. Only 55% of the respondents knew how to prepare SSS correctly. The percentage of doctors who prescribe smooth muscle relaxant (spasmolytic use rate) was 41%, and the commonest reason for its use was to reduce bowel movement. The influence of year of medical graduation on spasmolytic use was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Antibiotics were commonly used, although most (76%) doctors believed that viral infections were a common cause of childhood diarrhoea. All the respondents would recommend continued breastfeeding during diarrhoeal episodes. The study revealed a high rate of inappropriate drug use and a deficiency in the knowledge and practice of ORT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Okeke
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Okafor
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Amah
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Onwuasigwe
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ndu
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'