Knowledge and Health-Belief as Predictor of Prevention and Management of Childhood Diarrhoea at Federal Medical Centre, Owo

Abstract

Childhood diarrhoea is found to be the second main cause of under-five mortality the world over, in the developing countries. Therefore, the study examines the health beliefs of mothers as predictors of prevention and management of childhood diarrhoea in Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. The study employs a descriptive cross-sectional survey research, a consecutive sampling technique to select 166 mothers of under-five children at the Children Outpatient Clinic of FMC, Owo. A mixed method analysis of quantitative and in-depth interviews was utilized to retrieve information from mothers of under-five children in FMC, Owo. The demographic information and research question was analysed using descriptive statistics while the research hypothesis was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Linear regression. The results revealed that, more than half of the mothers have average knowledge of childhood diarrhoea. Across all the factors, there was a moderate level of health belief in the prevention of childhood diarrhoea among the nursing mothers of under-five children. 66.5% Average level of management of childhood diarrhoea. The first hypothesis indicated a significant relationship of socio-demographic characteristics and prevention of childhood diarrhoea among nursing mothers in under-five children in FMC, Owo Marital Status, 0.625, Occupation, 0.788, income of mother, 0.911, ethnicity, 0.771 and level of education, 0.604) and the prevention of childhood diarrhoea, this was significant 0.05 level of significance. However, religion was not significantly related with the prevention of childhood diarrhoea and prevention of childhood diarrhoea among nursing mothers of under-five children in FMC, Owo (p > 0.05). There was a significant relationship between knowledge and management of childhood diarrhoea among nursing mothers of under-five children in FMC, Owo (r=0.779, df=165, p<0.05). The study recommends that there is a need for public health physicians, social workers to provide nutritional educational programs about diarrhoea should be implemented for mothers in different community health services. Government should enforce good sanitation and improvement of housing conditions, especially water resources in rural areas.