Perception of caregivers regarding danger signs of childhood diarrhea and attitude towards its management in rural Lucknow, UP, India

Background: Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Most deaths are caused by dehydration and are easily preventable by using oral rehydration therapy. Early management and recognition of danger signs are key strategies in treating diarrhoeal diseases at home. Aims & Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge of caregivers regarding childhood diarrhoea and signs of dehydration and danger signs 2. To assesses the mothers’ approach towards its home based management and health seeking behaviour. Material & Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in different rural blocks of Lucknow selected by multistage sampling. Total of 240 households were interviewed to achieve targeted sample size of 410 children of less than five years age group. Perception of diarrhoea signs of dehydration and danger signs were asked to caregivers and associations were established maternal knowledge and presence or absence of diarrhoea in children of less than five age group. Results: The study showed that 74.2 per cent of caregivers recognized diarrhoea correctly i.e. increased frequency of watery stool or blood and mucus in stool or both. Decreased urination or dis-coloured urine (89.6%) thirsty or eagerly drinking (55.7%) dry mouth and tongue (37.7%) etc. were recognized by caregivers as major signs of dehydration*. Caregivers recognized child getting seeker / unconscious (94.9%) not able to drink or breast feed (66.7%) blood in stool (59%) etc. as danger signs* developing during diarrhoea episodes of child. Conclusions: Caregiver’s knowledge regarding recognition of childhood diarrhoea in proper and early detection of signs of dehydration and development of danger signs at community level are keys to prevention of diarrhoea related death in less than five years age group.