A STUDY ON THE USE OF ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY BY MOTHERS IN MANAGING DIARRHEA ILLNESS IN UNDER FIVE YEARS CHILDREN IN YOBE, NIGERIA

Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years, particularly in low-resource settings. Using Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a simple, cost-effective method for managing dehydration caused by diarrhea among children 0-5 years. The study aimed to assesses the effectiveness of ORS in managing diarrhea among mothers of under-five children at Nayinawa Primary Health Care, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was adopted for the study design, and data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire. The study targeted a population of 280 mothers, with a sample size of 180, determined. Data collected were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages and pie charts. The findings revealed that most mothers were aware of ORS's effectiveness, many lacked knowledge of its proper preparation. Factors such as ignorance, poverty, cultural beliefs, lack of awareness, and limited accessibility hindered the use of ORS. These barriers affected the ability of mothers to use ORS effectively for diarrhea management in their children. The study concluded that although awareness of ORS was high, proper preparation techniques were lacking among many mothers. To address these challenges, healthcare workers should focus on educating mothers about the correct preparation and use of ORS. It is recommended that public health campaigns, government policies, and NGO interventions work together to promote ORS usage, with emphasis on overcoming cultural and socioeconomic barriers. Further research is suggested to explore long-term strategies for improving ORS utilization in similar communities.