[In Tunisia: description of a health education program based on socio-cultural realities]

Structured within the framework of the National Programme for the Fight Against Diarrhoea in Tunisia, (PNLAD) the goal of the LAD Project is to improve the understanding and in-home treatment of diarrhoea by mothers. The programme consists of three elements: education of the mothers through health centers and preschool institutions, training of health care and social workers, and a mass media campaign. This article discusses the education programme for mothers through preschool institutions. Before embarking on its education programme, the project team conducted a preliminary study in order to establish what level of knowledge of diarrhoea existed among the general population and what current treatment methods were used. The study consisted of small discussion groups composed of mothers, grandmothers, and fathers. In evaluating current notions regarding diarrhoea, the study noted the various vocabulary used and its meaning for both diarrhoea and dehydration. It also examined the general beliefs of what caused diarrhoea and what people believed would cure and/or prevent the disease. As far as treatment methods were concerned, it was important to understand the origins of the various remedies, the level of awareness of the formal and informal health channels that existed and the different kinds of treatment based on diet, mother's milk, liquids, saline/sugar solutions and medication. The second key aspect of the programme concerned the kind of educational materials and teaching methods used. Both had to be geared towards the teaching of adults while insuring a real exchange of knowledge and experience between the population and the development personnel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)