Abstract

JHONNEL ALARCO, J.; AGUIRRE-CUADROS, Eduardo  and  ALVAREZ-ANDRADE, Esmilsinia V.. Mothers' knowledge of diarrhoea and its prevention in a human settlement in the province of Ica, Peru. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2013, vol.6, n.1, pp.25-31. ISSN 2386-8201.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1699-695X2013000100005.

Objective: To determine mothers' knowledge of diarrhoea and its prevention in a human settlement in the province of Ica, Peru Design: Cross sectional observational descriptive-type study Location: "El Huarango" human settlement situated 2 km from the city of Ica, a city in a situation of extreme poverty caused by a natural disaster. Participants: 82 mothers of children under 5 years of age. Main Surveyed Data: Knowledge of diarrhoea and its prevention was assessed via a questionnaire prepared by experts in the subject and validated by the population, prior to  implementation. Results: 82 mothers were interviewed. Their average age was 29 (with a minimum age of 15 and a maximum of 49). 58.8% of the mothers were live-in partners, 73.1% were housekeepers, approximately 7% had completed higher eduction and only 6% of the dwellings had drainage systems. With regard to knowledge and prevention of diarrhoea, 76% knew the meaning of the word diarrhoea, 53% believed parasites to be the main cause and 53% preferred to use oral rehydration solution (ORS) as the main treatment measure, although 23% admitted they would give antibiotics. 67% would go to a health centre, whereas 24% would go to a medicine man (healer). Conclusions: The mothers' general knowledge of how to deal with diarrhoea is mediocre. The belief that breastfeeding should be forbidden persists, that parasites are the main cause and that antibiotics should be used as an appropriate part of treatment.

Keywords : Primary health care; Health education; Areas of poverty; Mothers; Diarrhoea; Peru.

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