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Research Paper | Public Health | India | Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023

Knowledge Related to Causes, Symptoms, Prevention Practices of Acute Diarrhea and its Management among attending Parents of under Fifteen children in a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Bengal - A Cross Sectional Analytical Study

Shubhajit Pahari

Abstract: Objective: To estimate the level of knowledge related to causes, symptoms, prevention and management about acute diarrhea and to identify the factors associated with it. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among attending parents (N=150) of children who were admitted in the Pediatric Medicine department of SSKM medical college in West Bengal from August1st to September 30th in the year 2022. We used a structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge related to causes, symptoms, prevention and management of Diarrhea. Assessment was done through in-person interview with the participants after taking informed consent form them. Result: The study found that contaminated food (62.66%) and water (59.33%) were perceived as the main causes of diarrhea by most participants. About half of the participants (49.33%) were able to identify the symptom of diarrhea as having more than three loose stools with blood in the last 24 hours. The majority (61.33%) believed that washing hands before food preparation was an effective way of preventing diarrhea, and almost all (95.3%) had knowledge of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). Religion, number of children, educational status, and place of residence were significantly associated (p<0.05) with the knowledge score of participants. Additionally, the study revealed a moderate correlation (0.38) between educational status and knowledge score. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates, despite the fact that the majority of parents were aware with the ORS, there is still a knowledge gap. Utilizing health education as a vehicle to spread information and encourage good practice to prevent Diarrhea is the need of the hour.

Keywords: Diarrhea, Knowledge, Under - fifteen children, Parents, Home management

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023,

Pages: 1492 - 1497