The Morbidity and mortality rate associated with diarrhea is still high despite the effective way of managing it with oral rehydration therapy which has been described as cost effective and great advancement in medicine in the 20 century. This study aims at examining the factors that determine the knowledge and usage of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) in the treatment of diarrhea among under-five mothers attending Massey Street Children Hospital, Lagos. Cross sectional descriptive design was used for the study and random sampling technique employed to select 150 under five mother attending the hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on ORT. Data generated for the study were subjected to computer analysis using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics like frequency mean, standard deviation and percentage were used while chi-square and multiple regression was utilized for the inferential statistics. Statistically significance was determined at p=0.05 Findings reveal that majority of respondents are knowledgeable about oral rehydration therapy and majority administers ORT for their children. Two hypotheses are tested and the results show that there is significance association in the knowledge and usage of ORT and social demographic variables among under-five 2 mothers. Age (X = 152.097; DF =4; P < 2 0.0001), religion (X = 93.554; DF =6; P < 2 =0 .0001), educational background (X 159.322; DF =6; P < 0.0001) and occupation 2 (X = 144.636; DF =6; P < 0.0001). Also, age
2 2 (X = 113.054; DF =2; P < 0.0001), religion (X = 72.173; DF =3; P < 0.0001), educational 2 backgr ound (X = 62.403; DF =3; P < 0.0001) 2 and occupation (X = 53.017; DF =6; P < 0.0001) of the respondents are the determinants of ORT usage. We therefore recommend that the health professionals should encourage mothers on preparation and usage of ORT.
- Elizabeth | M. | Joseph-Shehu | ejoseph-shehu@noun.edu.ng | +2347034487611 , Martha | Echewunne | Alapa | Silasalapa2005@gmail.com | +2348028397934
- Diarrhea; Oral Rehydration Therapy; Under Five Mothers.
- Lautech New Edition April 2020 Article 1(1)
