Caregivers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the use of Oral Rehydration Salt in Children with Diarrhoea: Insights from Ola During Children’s Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Authors

  • Irene Eseohe Akhigbe Ola During Children Hospital, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Nellie Valerie Tayo Bell
  • Abubakarr Bailor Bah Ola During Children Hospital, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Freddie Jeffrey George Coker Ola During Children Hospital, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Lannes Namusa Susan Kamara Ola During Children Hospital, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Cheryl Olabisi Jones Ola During Children Hospital, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314.1.2.6

Abstract

Background: Diarrhoeal disease remains a significant global public health concern, ranking second only to pneumonia as a leading cause of mortality in children under the age of five. Simple home management of diarrhea using oral rehydration solution (ORS) could have prevented dehydration that accounts for 60-70% of deaths in children with diarrhea. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of child caregivers towards the use of oral rehydration salt in treating children with diarrhea.

 

 Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatrics general wards of Ola During Children’s hospital. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and was entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for IBM. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe descriptive data and the results were presented using tables and figures. The association between univariate factors and caregivers’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of ORS in children, were evaluated using chi square or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. The level of significance was set at p <0.05 in all the statistical analyses.

Results: A total of 120 caregivers participated in the study. From the total 120 caregivers, 98 (81.7%) of them had good knowledge, and almost half (53; 44.2%) had a good attitude about the use of Oral Rehydration Salt in children with diarrhea. Regarding their practice, 67 (55.8%) caregivers had good practice towards ORS use among their children having diarrhea.

Conclusion: The study found that while caregivers generally had good knowledge and practice regarding ORS use, their attitude was poor. Regular educational interventions should be implemented to enhance caregivers’ understanding of diarrhea management and the importance of ORS utilisation.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Oral Rehydration Salt, Diarrhoea, Caregivers

 

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Published

2026-05-21

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025): December 2025

Section

Original Articles

License

Submission of manuscripts to the Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research is of the understanding that the article either in part or whole is not under consideration for publication in any other Journal. Accepted papers become the permanent property of Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research but unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium is permitted, provided the original work is properly cited.