E-ISSN 2651-3455 (Online) | ISSN 2630-5593 (Print)
The Anatolian Journal of Family Medicine Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Utilization of Oral Rehydration Therapy Among Under Five Children with Diarrhoea in a Rural Nigerian Community [anatol j fm]
anatol j fm. 2020; 3(3): 221-228 | DOI: 10.5505/anatoljfm.2020.96636

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Utilization of Oral Rehydration Therapy Among Under Five Children with Diarrhoea in a Rural Nigerian Community

Ajibola Idowu1, Yetunde Olasinde2, Ayodele Olatayo Aremu1, Oluwaseyi Kolawole Israel1, Oluwabukola Ayodele Ala3
1Department of Community Medicine, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
2Department of Paediatrics, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria
3Department of Medicine, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun Sate, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: This study assessed the prevalence of childhood diarrhea disease and identified associated factors of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) use in treating childhood diarrhoea in a rural Nigerian community.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design involving caregivers of under-five children with at least one episode of diarrhea in the past six months in Ejigbo, Osun-State, Nigeria was conducted using a multistage sampling method. Pretested interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection.
RESULTS: A total of 410 caregivers were included in the study. Two hundred and fifty-two (61.5%) of under-five children in the study area had at least one episode of diarrhea within six months preceding the survey. Only 50 (13.8%) of all the participants who were aware of ORT had good knowledge, but 312 (76.1%) of them had a positive attitude to its use. ORT was utilized in treating only 145 (57.5%) of childhood-diarrhea cases. Determinants of ORT uptake in the study population included gender (OR=0.470, 95% CI=1.160-3.110), educational status (OR=0.620, 95% CI=2.300-4.120), knowledge on availability of ORT (OR=3.010, 95% CI=1.820-3.990) and overall ORT knowledge (OR=0.640, 95% CI=0.110-0.640).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The burden of childhood diarrhea disease is high in the study population. Authors advocate for improvement in the general socio-economic wellbeing of rural dwellers for this burden to be lessened. There is also an urgent need for a renewed awareness campaign on proper use of ORT in treating childhood diarrhea diseases in rural Nigeria.

Keywords: Diarrhea, prevalence, children, treatment, Nigeria

Ajibola Idowu, Yetunde Olasinde, Ayodele Olatayo Aremu, Oluwaseyi Kolawole Israel, Oluwabukola Ayodele Ala. Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Utilization of Oral Rehydration Therapy Among Under Five Children with Diarrhoea in a Rural Nigerian Community. anatol j fm. 2020; 3(3): 221-228

Corresponding Author: Ajibola Idowu, Nigeria
Manuscript Language: English
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