Factors influencing the maternal use of oral rehydration solution in the home treatment of childhood diarrhea in West Java, Indonesia

Muir, Shannon (2002) Factors influencing the maternal use of oral rehydration solution in the home treatment of childhood diarrhea in West Java, Indonesia. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death of children under 5 years of age in many developing countries, including Indonesia. An estimated 300,000 Indonesian children die of diarrhea every year, primarily as a result of dehydration. Many of these deaths are unnecessary, as diarrhea-related dehydration can be prevented and treated with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). Studies of home care practices in Indonesia, however, have shown that many mothers are not using ORS to treat their children's diarrhea episodes. The purpose of this research study was to describe the home treatment of childhood diarrhea in a rural village of West Java, Indonesia, and to determine the factors that influenced maternal use of ORS. This study utilized a cross-sectional design to survey a sample of mothers of children under the age of 5 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered in an interview format to mothers in their homes. The Health Belief Model was the conceptual framework which guided development of the research questions and the interpretation of the study findings. The factors investigated in this study relate to: mothers' perception of the threat of diarrhea and dehydration, their expectations of achieving success with ORS treatment, their perception of the barriers to ORS use, various sociodemographic factors, and the influence of other individuals. The only factors found to have statistically significant associations with ORS use were mothers' knowledge of the signs of dehydration and their self-efficacy in ORS preparation and administration. While the remaining variables were found to be either not associated or lacking statistical significance, narrative data indicate that some of these factors were viewed as influential by mothers. It is believed that limited use of ORS may be strongly influenced by mothers' lack of knowledge of the link between diarrhea, dehydration, and the rehydrating function of ORS. This and other findings of the study lead to the development of recommendations for specific interventions to be addressed through nursing practice, education, and research, as well as recommendations to ORS manufacturers and government.

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