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MOTHERS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES REGARDING ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN IN BARINGO DISTRICT, KENYA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Control of acute respiratory infections (ARI) is a major public health
problem in developing countries. Implementation of case management protocols requires
participation of the community to reduce morbidity and mortality from ARI. Health
education programmes can only be effective when designed to take into account the
prevailing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the community towards ARI
in their children.
Objective: To determine the KAP of mothers regarding ARI in their children aged less
than five years.
Design: Community based cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Baringo District, Kenya.
Subjects: Mothers with children aged 0-5 years were recruited following stratified
random sampling in three areas of Baringo District to represent low, medium and high
potential areas based on agricultural productivity.
Intervention: A mixed structured and unstructured questionnaire was administered to
each of the respondent mothers by the investigator; with the help of an interpreter
where necessary.
Results: A total of 309 mothers were interviewed. Their mean age was 31.5 years (range
16-51) and 34% had no formal education. Only 18% of mothers described pneumonia
satisfactorily. 60.2% knew that measles is preventable by immunisation. 87.1% of the
mothers said they would seek health centre services for severe ARI. Formal education
had a positive influence on the KAP of the mothers.
Conclusion: The study reveals that the mothers had good knowledge of mild forms of
ARI but not the severe forms. Their attitude to ARI was appropriate but subsequent
practices were not. Low utilisation of health services for moderate ARI may result in
continued high mortality because of delayed identification of seriously ill children.
Background: Control of acute respiratory infections (ARI) is a major public health
problem in developing countries. Implementation of case management protocols requires
participation of the community to reduce morbidity and mortality from ARI. Health
education programmes can only be effective when designed to take into account the
prevailing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the community towards ARI
in their children.
Objective: To determine the KAP of mothers regarding ARI in their children aged less
than five years.
Design: Community based cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Baringo District, Kenya.
Subjects: Mothers with children aged 0-5 years were recruited following stratified
random sampling in three areas of Baringo District to represent low, medium and high
potential areas based on agricultural productivity.
Intervention: A mixed structured and unstructured questionnaire was administered to
each of the respondent mothers by the investigator; with the help of an interpreter
where necessary.
Results: A total of 309 mothers were interviewed. Their mean age was 31.5 years (range
16-51) and 34% had no formal education. Only 18% of mothers described pneumonia
satisfactorily. 60.2% knew that measles is preventable by immunisation. 87.1% of the
mothers said they would seek health centre services for severe ARI. Formal education
had a positive influence on the KAP of the mothers.
Conclusion: The study reveals that the mothers had good knowledge of mild forms of
ARI but not the severe forms. Their attitude to ARI was appropriate but subsequent
practices were not. Low utilisation of health services for moderate ARI may result in
continued high mortality because of delayed identification of seriously ill children.
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