A well detailed analysis on diarrhea effect, prévention and treatment for nursing mothers in rural areas.

1. CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of Respondents
The table presents demographic information about the respondents in Group 1, which focuses on
the characteristics of mothers.
1. Age Distribution: The largest age group is 26-35, comprising 42.06% of the respondents,
followed by above 40 years at 18.69%. This indicates a diverse age range among the mothers.
2. Education: A significant portion of the respondents have secondary education (51.40%), while
34.58% have tertiary education. This suggests a relatively well-educated group.
3. Occupation: Most respondents are either traders (29.91%) or civil servants (23.36%),
indicating a mix of employment status.
4. Marital Status: A majority of the respondents are married (56.07%), followed by divorced
(25.23%) and single (18.69%) mothers.
5. Number of Children: A substantial portion have 2 children (42.06%), while the distribution
of children per mother varies.
6. Age of Child: Mothers with children in the 2-4 years age group (32.71%) are relatively more
common, followed by those with 12-24 months old children (28.04%).
This information provides a foundation for understanding the demographic characteristics of the
mothers in the study, which can be further analyzed to identify correlations with health-related
behaviors and knowledge.

2. Table 1: Sociodemographic Characteristics of Respondents
Variable Category Frequency Percentage
Age 18-25 30 28.04%
26-35 45 42.06%
36-40 12 11.21%
Above 40 20 18.69%
Education Primary 15 14.02%
Secondary 55 51.40%
Tertiary 37 34.58%
Occupation Unemployed 10 9.35%
Trader 32 29.91%
Civil Servant 25 23.36%
Others 40 37.38%
Marital Status Single 20 18.69%
Married 60 56.07%
Divorced 27 25.23%
Number of Children 1 12 11.21%
2 45 42.06%
3 20 18.69%
4 15 14.02%
More than 4 15 14.02%
Age of Child 12 months 25 23.36%
12-24 months 30 28.04%
2-4 years 35 32.71%
4-5 years 17 15.89%

3. 4.2 Respondents’ Knowledge Pertaining to Diarrhea
This table presents data related to health care utilization and knowledge of diarrhea management
among mothers in Group 2.
1. Diarrhea Incidence: A significant majority (65.42%) of the children had diarrhea this year,
indicating the prevalence of this health issue.
2. Healthcare Provider: Doctors were the most commonly visited healthcare providers
(42.06%), followed by nurses and pharmacists. A noteworthy portion also sought care from
herbal homes and other sources.
3. Healthcare Provider Communication: A substantial percentage (60.75%) of mothers were
informed about diarrhea by healthcare providers, indicating the importance of healthcare
professionals in disseminating information.
4. Awareness of Personal Hygiene: Most respondents (72.90%) were informed about the role
of personal hygiene in preventing diarrhea.
5. Awareness of Toilet Facilities and Drinking Water: A high level of awareness exists
regarding the role of good toilet facilities (79.44%) and drinking water (84.11%) in diarrhea
prevention.
This data underscores the influence of healthcare providers in educating mothers about diarrhea
and highlights the importance of awareness campaigns regarding personal hygiene, toilet facilities,
and clean drinking water.

4. Table 2: Respondents’ Knowledge Pertaining to Diarrhea
Variable Category Frequency Percentage
Has your child had diarrhea this year? Yes 70 65.42%
No 20 18.69%
Can't say 17 15.89%
Which healthcare provider did you see? Doctor 45 42.06%
Pharmacist 15 14.02%
Nurse 20 18.69%
Chemist 10 9.35%
Herbal Home 5 4.67%
Other 12 11.21%
Did the healthcare provider tell you about diarrhea? Yes 65 60.75%
No 42 39.25%
Were you told about the role of personal hygiene? Yes 78 72.90%
No 29 27.10%
Are you aware of the role of good toilet facilities? Yes 85 79.44%
No 22 20.56%
Are you aware of the role of good drinking water? Yes 90 84.11%
No 17 15.89%

5. 4.3 Knowledge and Attitude of Mothers towards the use of ORT
This table presents data on the knowledge and attitude of mothers towards Oral Rehydration
Therapy (ORT) in Group 3.
1. Awareness of ORT: A significant majority (88.79%) of respondents have heard about Oral
Rehydration Therapy, indicating good awareness of this important intervention for managing
diarrhea.
2. Source of Information: Health care providers (42.06%) and media (23.36%) are the primary
sources of information about ORS, followed by friends and neighbors.
3. Knowledge of ORS Preparation: Most respondents (74.77%) know how to prepare ORS,
which is crucial for effective usage.
4. Usage of ORS: More than half (56.07%) of the mothers use ORS for diarrhea management,
indicating acceptance and utilization of this treatment.
5. Perceived Effectiveness: A substantial percentage (79.44%) believe that ORS is effective in
managing diarrhea, highlighting positive attitudes towards its use.
6. ORS Use Purpose: Most respondents correctly associate ORS with treating dehydration
(65.42%), which is its primary purpose.
7. ORS Preparation Method: Pouring one sachet of ORS in powder form into 1 liter of water
is the most common preparation method (51.40%), followed by the recommended homemade
ORS preparation.

6. 8. Recommendation of ORT: A significant majority (84.11%) would recommend ORT to other
mothers, indicating a positive outlook and willingness to promote ORT.
This data indicates a strong foundation in knowledge and positive attitudes towards ORT among
the surveyed mothers, suggesting that further education and promotion efforts could lead to
increased adoption and better management of diarrhea among children.

7. Table 3: Knowledge and Attitude of Mothers towards the use of ORT
Variable Category Frequency Percentage
Have you heard about Oral
Rehydration Therapy?
Yes 95 88.79%
No 12 11.21%
Source of Information on ORS Health Care 45 42.06%
Media 25 23.36%
Friends 15 14.02%
Neighborhood 10 9.35%
Do you know how to prepare ORS? Yes 80 74.77%
No 27 25.23%
Do you use ORS for diarrhea
management?
Yes 60 56.07%
No 47 43.93%
Do you think ORS is effective in
diarrhea management?
Yes 85 79.44%
No 22 20.56%
What is ORS used for? To treat dehydration 70 65.42%
To quench thirst 10 9.35%
To stop vomiting and reduce
fever
27 25.23%
How do you prepare ORS? Pour ORS into drinkable water 30 28.04%

8. Pour one sachet of ORS in
powder form into 1 liter of water
55 51.40%
Pour ORS into 1 tsp of water 12 11.21%
How do you prepare homemade
ORS?
1 liter of water with 6 level
teaspoons of sugar and half level
teaspoon of salt
70 65.42%
1 liter of water with 6 level
teaspoons of sugar and 6 level
teaspoons of salt
20 18.69%
1 liter of water with half teaspoon
of salt and sugar
12 11.21%
Would you recommend ORT to
other mothers?
Yes 90 84.11%
No 17 15.89%

9. 4.4 Test of Hypothesis
1. Chi-square (Observed): The observed chi-square value, in this case, is 18.5. This value
represents the actual result obtained from the data analysis, specifically how much the observed
data deviates from what would be expected if there were no relationship between knowledge
and attitude towards ORT.
2. Chi-square (Critical): The critical chi-square value is 23.2. This value is typically obtained
from a chi-square distribution table and depends on the degrees of freedom (df) and the chosen
significance level (alpha). It serves as a threshold to determine whether the observed chi-square
value is statistically significant.
3. Degrees of Freedom (df): In this test, there are 3 degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom
represent the number of categories or groups being compared minus one. In this case, it likely
refers to the number of categories within both the knowledge and attitude variables.
4. P-value: The p-value associated with the chi-square test is 0.0005. This p-value indicates the
probability of observing a chi-square statistic as extreme as the one obtained (18.5) if there
were no real relationship between knowledge and attitude towards ORT.
5. Alpha (Significance Level): The alpha value is typically set by researchers to determine the
threshold for statistical significance. In this case, it is stated as 0.05, which is a common choice.
If the p-value is less than or equal to alpha (p ≤ 0.05), it is considered statistically significant.
Interpretation:
 The null hypothesis (Ho) in this test typically states that there is no significant relationship
between knowledge and attitude towards ORT among mothers.

10.  The alternative hypothesis (Ha) would be that there is a significant relationship between
knowledge and attitude towards ORT.
Based on the results:
 The observed chi-square value (18.5) is less than the critical chi-square value (23.2). This
suggests that the observed data does not deviate significantly from what would be expected if
there were no relationship between knowledge and attitude.
 The p-value (0.0005) is less than the alpha value (0.05), indicating statistical significance.
However, this does not necessarily mean there is a significant relationship; it means that there
is evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
The results of the chi-square test suggest that there is evidence to reject the null hypothesis that
there is no significant relationship between knowledge and attitude towards ORT among mothers.
However, the observed relationship, while statistically significant, might not be practically
significant. Further analysis and exploration of the data are needed to understand the nature and
strength of this relationship.

11. Table 4: Ho (There is no significant relationship between Knowledge and Attitude of Mothers
towards the use of ORT)
Statistic Value
Chi-square (Observed) 18.5
Chi-square (Critical) 23.2
Degrees of Freedom (df) 3
P-value 0.0005
Alpha 0.05

12. CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Research Summary of Findings
The research study investigated the knowledge and attitude of mothers towards the use of Oral
Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in the management of diarrhea among children. The study comprised
three main groups, each focusing on different aspects of maternal knowledge, attitudes, and
behaviors related to ORT.
Group 1: Demographic Information The first group provided valuable insights into the
demographic characteristics of the surveyed mothers. It revealed a diverse age range, with the
majority falling in the 26-35 age group. Most mothers had at least a secondary level of education,
and they represented various occupational backgrounds. The marital status varied among
respondents, and the number of children per mother showed a wide distribution. Notably, mothers
with children aged 2-4 years constituted a significant proportion.
Group 2: Health Care and Diarrhea Management The second group examined healthcare
utilization and knowledge regarding diarrhea management. A significant number of children had
experienced diarrhea during the year, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue.
Healthcare providers, especially doctors, played a vital role in educating mothers about diarrhea.
Mothers were also well-informed about the role of personal hygiene, toilet facilities, and clean
drinking water in preventing diarrhea.
Group 3: Knowledge and Attitude towards ORT The third group delved into mothers'
knowledge and attitudes specifically related to ORT. It revealed high awareness of ORT among

13. respondents, primarily through healthcare providers and the media. A substantial portion of
mothers knew how to prepare ORS, and a majority believed in the effectiveness of ORT. They
correctly associated ORS with treating dehydration. Importantly, the majority of respondents were
willing to recommend ORT to other mothers.
5.2 Conclusion
The research findings indicate a generally positive outlook and good knowledge base among
mothers regarding ORT and diarrhea management. Mothers are well-informed about the
importance of personal hygiene, clean water, and sanitation in preventing diarrhea. They also have
a high level of awareness about ORT, and most of them are willing to use and recommend it for
diarrhea management.
However, the statistical analysis suggests a significant relationship between knowledge and
attitude towards ORT, implying that those with more knowledge tend to have more positive
attitudes. While this relationship is statistically significant, its practical implications and the
direction of causality require further investigation.
5.3 Recommendations
1. Health Education: Continue and expand health education programs, especially through
healthcare providers and the media, to further enhance awareness and knowledge about ORT,
particularly among mothers with lower levels of education.
2. Behavioral Interventions: Develop interventions that promote not only knowledge but also
the practical application of ORT in diarrhea management. Ensure mothers are equipped with
the skills to prepare and administer ORS effectively.

14. 3. Research on Causality: Conduct further research to explore the causal relationship between
knowledge and attitude. Determine if improving knowledge directly leads to more positive
attitudes or if there are other influencing factors.
4. Community Engagement: Engage communities and local leaders in promoting ORT, as
community support and awareness can significantly impact its adoption.
5. Policy Support: Advocate for policies that ensure the availability and affordability of ORS in
both urban and rural areas to facilitate easy access.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the
impact of health education and intervention programs on mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and
behavior related to ORT.
In conclusion, while the research indicates a generally positive environment for the promotion of
ORT, continued efforts are needed to ensure that this knowledge translates into effective practices
and contributes to reducing the burden of childhood diarrhea.