Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia
Background: Every year, nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoea and around 525000 deaths among under-five children are reported globally. Information about parents’ or caregiver’s attitude concerning child health is crucial for improving infant and child wellbeing in the community. Aim: The...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2714 |
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| author | Maria F. Bauleth Honore K. Mitonga Lusia N. Pinehas |
| author_facet | Maria F. Bauleth Honore K. Mitonga Lusia N. Pinehas |
| author_sort | Maria F. Bauleth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Every year, nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoea and around 525000 deaths among under-five children are reported globally. Information about parents’ or caregiver’s attitude concerning child health is crucial for improving infant and child wellbeing in the community.
Aim: The aim of the study was to conclude the level of parents’ or caregivers’ attitude on managing and preventing diarrhoeal disease among under-five children in the Engela district.
Setting: The Engela district forms part of the seven constituencies in the Ohangwena region. More than half (62.3%) of the Ohangwena population lives in Engela.
Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Furthermore, 530 parents or caregivers participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Factors associated with negative attitudes were determined by performing logistic regression.
Results: Overall, 530 parents or caregivers participated in this study. Diarrhoea prevalence among the children under five was 24%. Factors such as parent or caregiver age group, residential area, possession of radio and education level were significantly associated with attitude (p 0.05). The strongest predictor of attitude was being a resident of an informal settlement (odds ratio of 21.9) and the parent or caregiver not being educated documenting an odds ratio of 15.8.
Conclusion: In conclusion, a greater number (72%) of parents or caregivers were considered to have a negative attitude. Furthermore, 32.5% strongly agreed and 42% agreed that child’s parents-related factors contribute to child suffering from diarrhoeal disease.
Contribution: Therefore, when planning for interventions, existing public health programmes targeting prevention and management of diarrhoea should consider age, residential area, level of education and motivation for ownership of radio, perceptions and beliefs of mothers or caregivers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b81da044a864e5bada5564fa05d5bcf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1025-9848 2071-9736 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b81da044a864e5bada5564fa05d5bcf2025-08-20T02:24:26ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362025-05-01300e1e810.4102/hsag.v30i0.27141257Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in NamibiaMaria F. Bauleth0Honore K. Mitonga1Lusia N. Pinehas2School of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, OshakatiSchool of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, OshakatiSchool of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, OshakatiBackground: Every year, nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoea and around 525000 deaths among under-five children are reported globally. Information about parents’ or caregiver’s attitude concerning child health is crucial for improving infant and child wellbeing in the community. Aim: The aim of the study was to conclude the level of parents’ or caregivers’ attitude on managing and preventing diarrhoeal disease among under-five children in the Engela district. Setting: The Engela district forms part of the seven constituencies in the Ohangwena region. More than half (62.3%) of the Ohangwena population lives in Engela. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Furthermore, 530 parents or caregivers participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Factors associated with negative attitudes were determined by performing logistic regression. Results: Overall, 530 parents or caregivers participated in this study. Diarrhoea prevalence among the children under five was 24%. Factors such as parent or caregiver age group, residential area, possession of radio and education level were significantly associated with attitude (p 0.05). The strongest predictor of attitude was being a resident of an informal settlement (odds ratio of 21.9) and the parent or caregiver not being educated documenting an odds ratio of 15.8. Conclusion: In conclusion, a greater number (72%) of parents or caregivers were considered to have a negative attitude. Furthermore, 32.5% strongly agreed and 42% agreed that child’s parents-related factors contribute to child suffering from diarrhoeal disease. Contribution: Therefore, when planning for interventions, existing public health programmes targeting prevention and management of diarrhoea should consider age, residential area, level of education and motivation for ownership of radio, perceptions and beliefs of mothers or caregivers.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2714diarrhoeaunder-five childrenpreventionchild healthattitudes |
| spellingShingle | Maria F. Bauleth Honore K. Mitonga Lusia N. Pinehas Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences diarrhoea under-five children prevention child health attitudes |
| title | Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia |
| title_full | Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia |
| title_short | Parents’ attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in Namibia |
| title_sort | parents attitudes towards the management and prevention of diarrhoea in children under five in namibia |
| topic | diarrhoea under-five children prevention child health attitudes |
| url | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2714 |
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