title: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of mothers on acute respiratory infection in children under five years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of mothers on ARI (Acute Respiratory Tract Infection) in children less than five years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Darul Sehat hospital from 1stDecember 2014 to 28thFebruary 2015. Mothers(n=335) who were local residents, had at least one child below the age of five years and coming to the hospital for any medical problem along with accompanying women were included. Foreign mothers and/or those having difficulty in perceiving questions were excluded. Language used in the Questionnaire was English which was translated to Urdu for better understanding. Questionnaire was interviewer administered. Researchers and two house physicians took part in questioning the mothers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 335 children were studied. Out of 335 children 228(68%) had ARI. Mean age of the children was 20 months ±17 SD while mean Birth weight was 2.7 kg ± 1.8 SD. The most common symptom perceived was cough (n=303, 40%), mostly worsening during winter season (n=255,87%), commonest aggravating factor was dust (n=174,81%), most common complication was Pneumonia (n=135, 83%), and most mothers opted for medical practitioner (n=268,89%) for treatment. Self-medication was practiced by 192(58%) and paracetamol was frequently used medication (n=117,42%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study reveals good knowledge of mothers on ARI symptoms, worsening environmental conditions, aggravating factors and complications. Their attitude towards ARI was appropriate with early consultation with qualified medical practitioner. Better literacy rate, has a positive influence on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of mothers.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Shireen Qasim Bham, DCH, FCPS. Department of Pediatrics, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry and Darul Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shireen Qassim
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Bham
authors.affiliation: Dr. Farhan Saeed, DCH, FCPS. Department of Pediatrics, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry and Darul Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Dr. Manzar Alam Shah, MPH. Department of Community Medicine, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry and Darul Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Manzar Alam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Acute Respiratory Infection(ARI); Expanded program of Immunization(EPI); KAP mother on ARI. Pneumonia in children