Abstract:
Background: Diarrhea is one of the major public health problem worldwide, especially in
developing countries. Knowledge and practices of the mothers are crucial in home
management of diarrhea in under-five children. They are important determinants of the
occurrence and outcome of diarrheal disease.
The aim of the study: The aim of this study is to assess knowledge and practice of mothers
on home management of diarrhea in under-fives children at Ruli health center in Gakenke
district.
Methodology: A nonexperimental descriptive cross-sectional design with quantitative
approach was employed on 160 mothers at Ruli health center, Gakenke distric, Rwanda via a
probability simple random sample. Knowledge and practices were assessed using structured
interview schedule. Data analysis was performed using inferential and descriptive statistics.
Testing for significant demographic factors associated with mother‟s knowledge and
practices, and for relationship between knowledge and practice of mothers were performed
by multivariate logistic regression and correlation (bivariate analysis).
Results: of the total 160 mothers, 71 (44.4%) had good level of knowledge, while 76 (47.5%)
had good level of practice. Knowledge was significantly associated with age (p=0.035); and
wealth status (p=0.033). Practice was significantly associated with age (p=0.002) and child‟s
care taker (p=0.040). There is a strong significant positive linear correlation between practice
and knowledge (r = .755 p=0.0001)
Conlusion: The level of knowledge and practice was low among mothers as regards to the
home management of diarrhea among under-fives children. The correlation results revealed
an increase in knowledge to necessitate an increase in the practice of mothers. Therefore, this
calls for need to devise an effective health education strategies of mothers to promote their
knowledge and practices regarding home management of diarrhea in children under 5 years
of age.
