A study to assess the knowledge, practice, and personal hygiene among respondents regarding childhood diarrhoea in a selected area of South Delhi, India: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253247Keywords:
Knowledge, Practice, Under-five children, DiarrhoeaAbstract
Background: Diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five, particularly in developing countries. Awareness of spreading, preventive measures, and healthy practices such as breastfeeding, immunization, and proper sanitation are essential to reduce this burden. This study aimed to assess knowledge, practices, and personal hygiene regarding diarrhoeal disease among caregivers of under-five children in South Delhi.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to September 2020 among 493 randomly selected households with at least one child under five. A total of 460 respondents who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on socio-demographics, knowledge, practices, and hygiene. Analysis was done using SPSS version 23 with chi-square tests; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among respondents, 46.3% were aware that tooth eruption is a cause of diarrhoea, while 72.8% and 79.3% attributed unsafe water and food exposed to flies as causes, respectively. Poor knowledge of vaccination was reported by 29.3%. During diarrhoeal episodes, 74.8% of respondents reported using the same or more water, whereas 25% reduced intake. Regarding hygiene, 84.1% practiced hand washing with soap after child’s faeces disposal, 90.7% after defecation, and 44.6% before cooking.
Conclusions: The practices of respondents were not proper in spite of their knowledge regarding diarrhoeal disease where whereas personal hygiene was performed better than practices. Therefore, health education should be utilized as a tool to promote knowledge, good practices, and personal hygiene, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality.
Metrics
References
WHO Global Health Observatory. Available at: http://www.who.int/gho/child_health/en/index.html. Accessed on 20 May 2025.
WHO-MCEE methods and data sources for child causes of death 2000-2015. Global Health Estimates Technical Paper WHO/HIS/IER/GHE/2016.1.
GHO. By category. WORLD- Diarrhoeal diseases. WHO. Available at: http://apps.who.int/gho/data/ view.main.CM1002015WORLD-CH3?lang=en. Accessed on 29 May 2025.
GHO. By category, By country- India. WHO. Available at: http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view. main.ghe1002015-IND?lang=en. Accessed on 29 May 2025.
WHO. Media Centre. Diarrhoeal disease. Fact sheet N° 330. 2013. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/. Accessed 25 May 2025.
Liu L, Johnson HL, Cousens S, Perin J, Scott S, Lawn JE. Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000. Lancet. 2012;379(9832):2151-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60560-1
Shah D, Choudhury P, Gupta P, Mathew JL, Gera T, Gogia S. Promoting Appropriate Management of Diarrhoea: A Systematic Review of Literature for Advocacy and Action: UNICEF-PHFI Series on Newborn and Child Health, India. Indian Pediat. 2012;49(8):627-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-012-0134-1
Munos MK, Walker CL, Black RE. The effect of oral rehydration solution and recommended home fluids on diarrhoea mortality. Int J Epidemiol. 2010;39(1):i75-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq025
Preventing diarrhoea through better water, sanitation and hygiene: Exposures and impacts in low- and middle income countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/150112/1/9789241564 823_eng.pdf. Accessed on 29 May 2025.
Rehan HS, Gautam K, Gurung K. Mothers needs to know more regarding management of childhood acute diarrhea. Indian J Preventive Social Med. 2003;34(1):1-2.
WHO. Diarrhoea: why children are still dying and what can be done. WHO. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44174/1/97 89241598415_eng.pdf. Accessed on 29 May 2025.
The situation of children in India-a profile. Available at: http://www.unicef.org/india/health.ht ml. Accessed on 7 May 2025.
Curtis V, Cairncross S. Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2003;3(5):275-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(03)00606-6
Kaur A, Chowdhury S, Kumar R. Mother's beliefs and practices regarding prevention and management of diarrhoeal diseases. Indian Pediatr. 1994;31(1):55-7.
Mumtaz Y, Zafar M, Mumtaz Z. Knowledge attitude and practices of mothers about diarrhoea in children under 5 years. J Dow Uni Health Sci. 2014;8(1):3-6.
Sood AK, Kapil U. Knowledge and practices among rural mothers in Haryana about childhood diarrhoea. Indian J Pediatr. 1990;57(4):563-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02726770
Baghdadi IH. Kitab-al-mukhtaraat fi-al-tibb (Urdu translation). New Delhi:CCRUM. 2005;1:185-6.
Khalili M, Mirshahi M, Zarghami A. Maternal knowledge and practice regarding childhood diarrhoea and diet in Zahedan, Iran. Health Scope. 2013;2(1):19-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17795/jhealthscope-9885
Merga N, Alemayehu T. Knowledge, perception, and management skills of mothers with under-five children about diarrhoeal disease in indigenous and resettlement communities in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia. J Health Popul Nutr. 2015;33(1):20-30.
Saurabh S, Shidam UG, Subair M. Knowledge and practice regarding oral rehydration therapy for acute diarrhoea among mothers of under-five childrenin an urban area of Puducherry India. Natl J Community Med. 2014;5(1):100-4.
Ahmad IS, Eltom AR, Karrar ZA, Gibril AR. Knowledge, attitudes and Practices of mothers regarding diarrhoea among children in a Sudanese rural community. East Afr Med J. 1994;71(11):716-9.
Kapoor P, Rajput VJ. Maternal knowledge, attitudes and practice in diarrhoea. Indian Pediatr. 1993;30(1):85-8.
Rumbo H, Sanguanprasit B, Wichaikul S. Factors influencing preventive behaviors of mothers for diarrhoea in children aged 1-5 years in Buol disrict, Indonesia. Sociol Study. 2016;6(12):745-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5526/2016.12.001
Godana W, Mengiste B. Environmental factors associated with acute diarrhoea among children under five years of age in Derashe district, Southern Ethiopia. Sci J Publ Health. 2013;1(3):119-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130103.12
Gedamu G. Magnitude and associated factors of diarrhoea among under five children in Ferta wereda, North West Ethiopia. Insight Med Publishing Group. 2017;25(4):199-207.
Gogoi R, Saikia P. Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diarrhoea and its management at home among mothers of under-five children residing within a subcentre area in Dibrugarh district, Assam. Sch J App Med Sci. 2017;5(11C):4495-9.
Othero DM, Orago AS, Kaseje DO. Home management of diarrhoea among underfives in a rural community in Kenya: household perceptions and practices. East Afr J Public Health. 2008;5(3):142-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/eajph.v5i3.38992
Rabbi SE, Dey NC. Exploring the gap between hand washing knowledge and practices in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional comparative study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-89
Dutta SS, Singh, Z, Boratne AV. Knowledge and practice of hand washing among mothers of under five children in rural coastal South India. Int J Med Public Health. 2011;1(1):33-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5530/ijmedph.1.2011.6
Paul R, Kalidas P. A study on hand washing practices among mothers of under-five children in urban slums. J Prevent Med Holistic Health. 2017;3(2):37-40.
Khadse SS, Dani VS, Kulkarni LR, Shri VN. Study of behavioural risk factors for recurrent acute diarrhoea in children (Conference), Yavatmal in Conference Proceedings of the 9th Asian conference on diarrhoeal diseases and nutrition. New Delhi. 2001.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
