Factors influencing the home-based management of diarrhoea in children under five years in the rural Matzikama sub district in the Western Cape

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY : The high incidence of diarrhoea in children under five years of age is a great concern and becomes a priority to decrease the level of child morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the home-based management of diarrhoea in children under five in the rural Matzikama sub district in the Western Cape. The objectives for the study were to determine whether the following factors influenced the home-based treatment of diarrhoea: demographical factors; socio-economic factors; the knowledge of mothers and caregivers about the home-based management of diarrhoea; and the participant's previous involvement with the management of diarrhoea.A quantitative approach with a descriptive design was applied in the study. A total population of N=195 of mothers and caretakers of children under five were included in the study obtained through convenient sampling. The data collection instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. A structured interview was conducted with the participants with limited literacy skills. Reliability and validity were ensured by a pilot study done in Klawer Clinic in the Matzikama Sub-District and furthermore assisted by primary health care experts, the study supervisor and co-supervisor, and a statistician from the University of Stellenbosch.Ethics approval was granted by the Health Research Committee of Stellenbosch (S14/05/120). Permission was obtained from the Health Department of the Western Cape Government to conduct the research in the Vredendal-North and Vredendal-Central clinics in the Matzikama Sub-District in the West Coast District. (WC_2014RP59_660). Informed written consent was obtained from the participants.With the support of a qualified statistician at the Stellenbosch University data was analysed using the STATA 14 computer software program. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied, cross tabulation between the biographical data and the successful treatment of diarrhoea at home was done applying the Fisher's exact probability test. The results of the data were presented in tables and bar graphs.A response rate of 100% was obtained. The categorical data of nominal variables did not fall into any rankable order, therefore no arithmetical calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication or division could be performed. The identified factors that indicated a statistical significant difference between the successful home-based treatment of diarrhoea in this study were: the number of people in the house (p=0.003); the information source on the management of diarrhoea (p=0.005); and the successful treatment versus the unsuccessful treatment of diarrhoea at home (p=0.000). Based on the demographical variables, the knowledge level on diarrhoea is poor. Results further show that only 21% of participants knew the correct answers on the knowledge-based questions, while 79% answered incorrectly. The study showed no statistical significant difference between the knowledge-based questions and the age, gender and highest school grade passed. Recommendations for this study include: training about the management of diarrhoea at home-based level for community care workers, mothers and caregivers, and health care workers; social mobilization on awareness of diarrhoea; and family and health care support to mothers and caregivers in the management of diarrhoea at home-based level. The implementation of these recommendations may lead to the reduction of child morbidity and mortality.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University