Acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in Cotonou. Parental behavior

Acute diarrhea in children is still a public health problem in Benin and its prevention requires a change in parental behavior. This study assesses parental knowledge, attitude, and practice when confronted to acute diarrhea in children. The population studied lives in the Cotonou suburds. Data was collected from 400 parents (200 mothers and 200 fathers) randomly recruited. Data analyses indicated a diarrhea incidence of 28 % in the two week preceding the survey, and 2.6 annual diarrhea episodes per child. Fathers were more trained and informed than mothers (p < 0.05). Consequently, fathers knew more about diarrhea and oral therapy than mothers (p < 0.01). Only few among the mothers who knew how to prepare glucose-and salt solution, used this therapy at home. This may be due to the fact that sugar, one of the solution's components, is forbidden for child suffering from diarrhea. The authors took advantage of this study to stress the need for a better schooling of girls and for an improvement of women's health education. Finally, the implication of fathers in oral therapy appeared as an asset in preventing dehydration.