Current Knowledge and Practices Among Mothers About Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Below 5 Years of Age In Rural Community, District Bahawalpur

Abstract

Objective: To determine the knowledge and practices of the mothers regarding management of
acute respiratory tract infections in children below 5 years of age.
Material & Methods: Respondents were residents of a rural community. It was a descriptive,
epidemiological study. 250 mothers with at least one child below 5 years of age who suffered from
at least one episode of ARI were interviewed with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire.
Data was analyzed with the help of Epi info statistical program.
Results: Among the mothers interviewed, 90% mothers were below 35 years of age, 54.8%
were illiterate and 72% mothers belonged to nuclear families, 89.2% had 1-2 children below the
age of 5 years. Among the children between 12 to 59 months, 64.24% were completely
vaccinated. The symptoms identified by the mothers included cough in 68.4%, running nose in
22.2%, fever in 50%, blocked nose in 11.2%, sore throat in 9.2% and difficulty in breathing in
23.2%. Whistling was present in 34.4%, earache in 9.2%, ear discharge in 21.2%and chest indrawing was present in 31.2%. 44.4% mothers considered difficult breathing as a dangerous
symptom, 40.3% mothers considered whistling as dangerous and 33.1% mothers considered
chest in-drawing as dangerous sign. The main causes of ARI as described by the mothers
included “exposure to cold” by 73.2% “intake of sour or cold food” by 0.4%, “after bathing” by
17.6%, and , 0.4% “due to germs” by 16%, “evil eye” 3.2% and “change of weather” by 2.0%.
62.4% mothers consulted private doctors and 10.8% mothers consulted government health
facility for treatment while 11.6% mothers used various types of home remedies like 55.17% used
Joshanda, 86.22%used Vicks vaporub, 20.68% honey, 31.03% soanf (aniseed) water and
41.38% gave tea. 62.07% kept the child warm and 6.87% gave eggs to their children, Urq by
27.59% and brandy by 24.13%. 76% mothers consulted a qualified doctor for ARI treatment. The
mothers who did not consult doctor for ARI treatment, 55% reasoned that illness was minor, 8.3%
blamed lack of time etc. Among the mothers belonging to families with 9 or more family members,
with 4+ children and with income per month Rs. 3000 or below, a statistically significant
association was observed with using home remedy.
Conclusion: These results indicate that mothers are the main decision makers regarding the
management of the diseased children and there is strong need for a comprehensive health
education program for the parents especially the mothers.