Perception of Feeding Practices in Home Management of Childhood Diarrhoea in Ibadan North East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Diarrhoea accounts for one in five deaths amongst children in Nigeria. In home management of childhood diarrhoea, cultural diversity exists in people’s perceptions of appropriate feeding practices during and after diarrhoeal episodes. This study examined factors that influenced people’s perceptions of feeding practices in home management of childhood diarrhoea in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo state, using Weberian social action theory. The study design was exploratory using qualitative techniques. Sixteen (16) In-depth interviews (IDIs) for mothers of under-five children, six (6) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for Community leaders, Herbalist and Nurses in public health institutions, and four (4) Focus Group Discussions were conducted. Teething, poor sanitation and consumption of some foods were perceived as responsible for high prevalence of diarrhoea amongst children. Mothers’ perceptions of type of food to be served to children, and number of feeding times, during and after diarrhoeal episodes varied according to their social status and food culture of their local environment. The study concluded that mothers’ perceptions of feeding practices in home management of childhood diarrhoea were influenced by culture, religion and socio-demographic factors. Injurious beliefs should therefore be dropped towards enhancing success of primary health care (PHC) programme