Abstract

Diarrhoea induced dehydration remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years in Ishaka
Adventist Hospital’s catchment area. This study was therefore conducted to determine the Oral Rehydration Therapy
(ORT) knowledge and practices of caregivers with under 5-year-old children. A descriptive cross-sectional study was
undertaken to assess the knowledge and practices of caregivers of children under 5 years of age regarding ORT. Data
was collected from 100 caregivers using stratified and convenient sampling, through an interviewer admitted
structured questionnaire for knowledge on ORT and an observation checklist for use of ORT. Data was analyzed
using Microsoft excel program and presented as descriptive statistics. Caregivers of children under 5 years of age, in
general, were found to be equipped with average knowledge about oral rehydration Therapy although the majority
did not know how to prepare ORT for use in the prevention/management of dehydration caused by diarrhoea. It can
thus be concluded that the ORS knowledge and practices among caregivers were deficient. The implication of this
finding is that more needs to be done to strengthen the quality of ORT promotional messages and education given
to caregivers in terms of the actual function of ORT so that they can appreciate why it is critical to use it with the
onset of diarrhoea.
Keywords: Diarrhoea, Infant mortality, Oral Rehydration Therapy, Watery stool