A qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe the knowledge and perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of diarrhoea among children under five years living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim was to assist in correcting the negative perceptions of the causes of under five child diarrhoea through improved educational interventions. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured and face-to-face interviews from seven participants who were parents and caregivers of under-five children presenting with diarrhoea or admitted for the management of diarrhoea at a specific hospital and thematic analysis was done. The findings revealed that the participants had inadequate knowledge and lacked understanding of diarrhoea and its causes. Participants could not mention all the causes and risk factors associated with diarrhoea. Noteworthy is that the participants’ perceived diarrhoea as a serious condition. The study recommends that the implementation of policies regarding public education and health promotion programmes be targeted at educating parents and caregivers / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

A qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe the knowledge and perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of diarrhoea among children under five years living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim was to assist in correcting the negative perceptions of the causes of under five child diarrhoea through improved educational interventions. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured and face-to-face interviews from seven participants who were parents and caregivers of under-five children presenting with diarrhoea or admitted for the management of diarrhoea at a specific hospital and thematic analysis was done. The findings revealed that the participants had inadequate knowledge and lacked understanding of diarrhoea and its causes. Participants could not mention all the causes and risk factors associated with diarrhoea. Noteworthy is that the participants’ perceived diarrhoea as a serious condition. The study recommends that the implementation of policies regarding public education and health promotion programmes be targeted at educating parents and caregivers / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental factors that impact on childhood diarrhoea in children under five years old in Akakikality sub city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of diarrhoea and to determine the environmental factors that impact on diarrhoea in children under five years old. A survey was done and a non-experimental approach was used in this descriptive and analytical quantitative study using a cross sectional study design. The instrument was a self-designed questionnaire. The target population for this study was all mothers or caretakers of children under five years found in the described study context – the sample size was 299. In this study 12.7% of the children had diarrhoea during the survey. Proper utilization of toilets, hand washing and safe storage of water in the households using narrow mouthed water containers were significant predictors of diarrhoea in the children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental factors that impact on childhood diarrhoea in children under five years old in Akakikality sub city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of diarrhoea and to determine the environmental factors that impact on diarrhoea in children under five years old. A survey was done and a non-experimental approach was used in this descriptive and analytical quantitative study using a cross sectional study design. The instrument was a self-designed questionnaire. The target population for this study was all mothers or caretakers of children under five years found in the described study context – the sample size was 299. In this study 12.7% of the children had diarrhoea during the survey. Proper utilization of toilets, hand washing and safe storage of water in the households using narrow mouthed water containers were significant predictors of diarrhoea in the children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)