Effect of Health Education Intervention On Diarrhea Prevention Practices Among Mothers of Under-5 Children in Abia State, Nigeria

Delayed response to the onset of diarrhea in infants caused by poor sanitation and delay in responding to signs and symptoms can be fatal, as evidenced by mortality in children attributable to diarrhea, occasioned by inadequate understanding of the dangers and consequences involved due to poor knowledge of far-reaching consequences, inadequate prevention and skills to manage the condition as it develops. This study evaluated the effect of a health education intervention on diarrhea prevention practices among mothers with children under the age of five in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design. From population of 350 under-5 mothers in the Local government, a sample size of 60 was determined using power formula. Systematic sampling was used to select the mothers. The health education intervention involved a control and experimental group. The duration of program was one hour weekly didactic intervention for six weeks. A structured validated questionnaire was used to collect data at baseline, at 6^th and 12^th week post intervention. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.75 to 0.87. The mother’s prevention practices were measured on a 27-point rating scale. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at α = 0.05 level of significance.Findings showed that between the baseline and the post-immediate there was a significant difference in the mean prevention score in the experimental group (from 19.03±5.91 to 22.20±3.67 at p< 0.05. However, there was no significant difference (p >0.05) in the mean prevention score of the control group (from20.13 ± 4.89 to 20.8 ± 3.41). In conclusion, the health education intervention was effective increasing the mother’s prevention and home management practices of diarrhea. It is recommended that matrons and nurses in charge of antenatal and postnatal clinics should teach mothers about prevention andhome management of diarrhea.

Keywords: Abia, Health education, Mothers, Prevention, diarrhea, under-five children