EXPLORING AWARENESS AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN 1-5 YEARS OF AGE REGARDING IDENTIFICATION, AND TRANSMISSION OF CHOLERA

Main Article Content

Mishal Liaqat
Rukhsana Kousar
Shamim Bibi
Parveen Anjum

Keywords

Cholera, Mothers, Identification, transmission, Children

Abstract

Background: Cholera is a global issue, presenting mostly in developing regions. Though it affects all ages, however, the incidence among children under 1-5 years old is 2-4 times higher than the rest of the population. Mothers’ knowledge of cholera plays a key role in its prevention. Hence, the study objective was to determine the awareness among mothers of children 1-5 years old regarding identification, and transmission of cholera.


Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to February 2021 in five big cities of Pakistan. The public health facilities of Lahore (Jinnah Hospital, Children Hospital, Lahore General Hospital, and Services Hospital), Kasur (DHQ Hospital), Gujranwala (DHQ Hospital), Sheikhupura (DHQ Hospital), and Faisalabad (DHQ Hospital) were selected randomly. The 800 children’s mother visited the health facility for cholera were included in the study. The knowledge on identification and transmission was collected through a previously published validated tool. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between variables. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 is considered significant.


Results: The results showed that less than 50% of mothers were aware of identification signs/ symptoms and the spread of cholera. While only 48% of mothers were aware of the route of transmission of cholera. A significant association (P=0.03) was found between the sex of children and mother knowledge regarding cholera transmission. Another significant association (p=0.04) was found between mothers’ level of education and cholera transmission.


Conclusion: Mothers have insufficient knowledge regarding the identification and transmission of cholera among children. Community-based health education programs should be held regularly to disseminate cholera.

Abstract 120 | pdf Downloads 43

References

1. Ahmed, M. U., Baquilod, M., Deola, C., Tu, N. D., Anh, D. D., Grasso, C., . . . Iamsirithaworn, S. (2018). Cholera prevention and control in Asian countries. Paper presented at the BMC proceedings.
2. Akram, K. (2018). Investigation of cholera outbreak at Rawalpindi, Pakistan-August 2017. 4(1), e10579.
3. Al-Sakkaf, K., Bahattab, A., Basaleem, H. J. J. o. P. M., & Hygiene. (2020). Cholera knowledge, socioeconomic and WaSH characteristics in Aden-Yemen, 2017: a community-based comparative survey. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 61(3), E392.
4. D’Mello-Guyett, L., Gallandat, K., Van den Bergh, R., Taylor, D., Bulit, G., Legros, D., . . . Cumming, O. (2020). Prevention and control of cholera with household and community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions: a scoping review of current international guidelines. PloS one, 15(1), e0226549.
5. Davies, H. G., Bowman, C., & Luby, S. P. (2017). Cholera–management and prevention. Journal of Infection, 74, S66-S73.
6. Deen, J., Mengel, M. A., & Clemens, J. D. (2020). Epidemiology of cholera. Vaccine, 38, A31-A40.
7. Ganesan, D., Gupta, S. S., & Legros, D. (2020). Cholera surveillance and estimation of burden of cholera. Vaccine, 38, A13-A17.
8. Islam, M. T., Clemens, J. D., & Qadri, F. (2018). Cholera control and prevention in Bangladesh: an evaluation of the situation and solutions. The Journal of infectious diseases, 218(Suppl 3), S171.
9. Kazaji, D. (2015). Factors contributing to the prevalence of cholera during 2008 to 2009 in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. (Doctoral Dissertation), University of Limpopo.
10. Meszaros, V. A., Miller-Dickson, M. D., Baffour-Awuah, F., Almagro-Moreno, S., & Ogbunugafor, C. B. (2020). Direct transmission via households informs models of disease and intervention dynamics in cholera. PloS one, 15(3), e0229837.
11. Nsagha, D. S., Atashili, J., Fon, P. N., Tanue, E. A., Ayima, C. W., & Kibu, O. D. (2015). Assessing the risk factors of cholera epidemic in the Buea Health District of Cameroon. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-7.
12. Orimbo, E. O., Oyugi, E., Dulacha, D., Obonyo, M., Hussein, A., Githuku, J., . . . Gura, Z. (2020). Knowledge, attitude and practices on cholera in an arid county, Kenya, 2018: A mixed-methods approach. PloS one, 15(2), e0229437.
13. Rosdi, M. A. F. B. M., Rahman, N. A. A., & Haque, M. (2019). Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cholera among non-academic staff of international islamic university malaysia kuantan medical campus. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 18(3), 527-535.
14. Srilaxmi, N., Inbarathi, R. P., & Gomathi, S. (2017). Knowledge and Practices of Mothers of under Five Children on Prevention of Selected Water Borne Diseases At Israelpet, Guntur (Dt.), AP. Journal of medical science and clinical research, 5(11), 30897-30903.
15. Wahed, T., Kaukab, S. S. T., Saha, N. C., Khan, I. A., Khanam, F., Chowdhury, F., . . . Cravioto, A. (2013). Knowledge of, attitudes toward, and preventive practices relating to cholera and oral cholera vaccine among urban high-risk groups: findings of a cross-sectional study in Dhaka, Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1-12.
16. Workie, H. M., Sharifabdilahi, A. S., & Addis, E. M. (2018). Mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards the prevention and home-based management of diarrheal disease among under-five children in Diredawa, Eastern Ethiopia, 2016: a cross-sectional study. BMC pediatrics, 18(1), 1-9.
17. Yakum, M. N., Ateudjieu, J., Guenou, E., Walter, E. A., Ram, M., Debes, A. K., . . . Sack, D. A. (2017). Health seeking behaviour among suspected cases of cholera in Cameroonian health districts in Lake Chad basin. BMC research notes, 10(1), 1-7.
18. Zeb, S., Gulfam, S. M., & Bokhari, H. (2020). Comparative core/pan genome analysis of Vibrio cholerae isolates from Pakistan. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 82, 104316.