AbstractDiarrheal disease is a common childhood death in the developing countries. Diarrheal disease account for 1 in 9 child death worldwide, diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death among children under the age of 5. About 88% of diarrhoea associated deaths are attributed by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and insufficient hygiene. India has highest incidence of diarrhoeal death among children below the age of 5 years. About one third of total hospitalized children are due to diarrhoeal disease and 17 present of all death in indoor paediatric patient related to this condition.
Aim: To assess the knowledge on diarrhoea among mothers of under five years children.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge on diarrhoea among the mothers of under five year’s children.To associate the findings with demographic variables.
Material and Methods: A descriptive survey approached study was conducted to assess The Knowledge on Diarrhoea among the Mothers of under Five Years Children, using fifteen(15) items structured questionnaires on Diarrhoea.100 mothers of under five years children were chosen for the study through non-probability purposive sampling technique. Reliability was conducted on 10 mothers of under five years children through test retest method.
Findings of the study: To ensure the content validity of research tool, it was given to five different specialities in nursing from Bharati Vidyapeeth, college of nursing Pune. The reliability of the research tool was found to be 0.90 that depict the feasibility and reliability of the tool.The obtained result data revealed that maximum 48% mothers were from age group of 26 – 32 years. 39% mothers had secondary level education, majority 79% mother s were housewife living with two children in family and 42% having children in between 25-36 month age, Majority of mothers attending regular health check-up. Majority of 65% mothers having average knowledge, 30% mothers having poor knowledge and only 5% mothers having good knowledge on diarrhoea. There was no association found between the knowledge score and demographic variable of mothers of under five years children.
Conclusion: In the present study following conclusion were drawn from findings of study. Majority of participants have inadequate knowledgeon diarrhoea after attending regular health check-up for children and being good educated. Hence the researcher is recommending that organize awareness programme and health education by nursing personnel on diarrhoea among mothers of under five children.