Effectiveness of WHO Combination Treatment Regimen in The Management of Diarrhoea Among Under-Five Children Attending Primary Health Care Centres in Oyo State, Nigeria (Published)
Diarrhoea is one of the childhood diseases that result to high mortality. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of the combination treatment regimen of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc supplements for the management of this disease, it effectiveness in treating and preventing the reoccurrence of diarrhoea among the under-five children remains a serious concern. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of WHO combination treatment regimen in the management of diarrhoea amongst under-five children attending Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in Oyo State. The study adopted quasi-experimental of one group Pretest-posttest design. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit a total of 60 eligible participants on admission. The effectiveness of the combination treatment regimen was assessed based on the recovery rate of the participants at 24 hours, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention using a standardized instrument of WHO observational check-list for assessing diarrhoeaic under-five children. Data analysis was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. However, on admission (baseline), majority 52(86.7%) of the participants had moderate diarrhoea. After administering WHO-ORS plus Zinc supplements, 24 hours later, majority 51(85.0%) of the participants had no diarrhoea, two (2) weeks later, during home visiting, majority 56(93.3%) of the participants had no diarrhoea. After Four (4) weeks, significant improvement was also achieved as 57(95.0%) participants had no diarrhoea. It was concluded that the significant improvement in the diarrhoea status in 24 hours, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention was an indication that the combination of WHO-ORS plus zinc suggest how highly efficacious the regimen is in the management of under-five diarrhoea. Hence, Health workers in the PHC should combine the therapy and not using only one in the management of under-five diarrhoea.
Keywords: Diarrhoea, Effectiveness, ORS, combination treatment regimen, under five, zinc
Perception and Uptake of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test among Caregivers of Under-Five in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria (Published)
The launch of RDT is hoped to enable in reducing the rate of presumptive treatment of malaria. However, simply making RDTs available has not led to high uptake of the test, in light of this, it is crucial to understand the perception of RDT and its uptake among caregivers concerning the treatment of malaria in under five children, therefore the aim of the study was to determine the perception and uptake of rapid diagnostic test in the treatment of malaria among care givers of under five children in Owerri West Local Government. Descriptive study was employed and a multi stage cluster and systematic sampling techniques was used to select 420 respondents in the LGA. The Instrument for data collection was structured pre- tested questionnaire which was administered by trained researcher after gaining informed consent from the respondents. Results of the study showed that more respondents were aged 30 -49 years 161 (38.3%), females 268 (63.8%), Married 216 (51.4%), Primary education 126 (63.8%) and civil servant was 196 (46%) respectively. Perception of malaria RDT showed that 175 (41.7%) respondents were of the opinion that mRDT was useful, 102 (24.3%) not useful, 101 (24%) dangerous while 16 (2.8%) felt it was not good. Malaria RDT uptake indicated that majority of the respondents 223 (53.1%) did not know about RDT and 215 (51.2%) did not carry out mRDT test. 300 (73.8%) indicated that malaria rapid diagnostic test is not very useful and 373 (88.8%) of caregivers were of the opinion that mRDTs w ere expensive. From the study it is evident that the perception of malaria rapid diagnostic is negative and low, therefore sensitization of the caregivers about mRDTs will be of benefit.
Keywords: Imo State, Malaria, Nigeria, Perception, Uptake, under five