Knowledge and Practices on Diarrhea Prevention among Mothers

Acute diarrheal diseases are very rampant among children under 5 years old worldwide. The objective of this study is to determine mother’s level of knowledge and extent of practice on prevention of diarrhea in Lobatse, Botswana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online on mothers with children less than five years. A standardized questionnaire was posted through a link on Lobatse groups in Facebook. The tool assessed the socio-demographic variables, knowledge on diarrhea on signs and symptoms, causes and mode of transmission and practices regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and other domestic practices. A total of 80 respondents answered the questionnaire. The findings revealed that mothers have high knowledge on diarrhea but poor practices on prevention of diarrhea. Thus, there is a wide gap in the knowledge and practices of mothers regarding the prevention of diarrhea. From this, interventions are needed to enhance the mothers’ practices to promote the prevention of diarrhea.

 

Keywords: Knowledge, practices, diarrhea prevention, mothers, Botswana