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Impact on parents during hospitalisation for acute diarrhoea in young children

Way-Seah Lee1, Pei-Fan Chai, Zulkifli Ismail

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya Medical Centre, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. leews@um.edu.my

Singapore Medical Journal
|November 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalisation for acute diarrhoea (AD) in young children causes significant parental distress and financial burden. Parents experienced worry, exhaustion, and sleep loss, with costs averaging 16% of monthly income.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Acute diarrhoea (AD) is a common childhood illness requiring hospitalisation.
  • Parental emotional well-being and daily functioning are often overlooked during child hospitalisation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the emotional impact on parents of hospitalised young children with AD.
  • To quantify the disruption to daily activities and financial costs incurred by parents.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving parents of children under two years with AD admitted to Malaysian urban hospitals.
  • Data collected via interviews on emotional impact, daily disruption, and incurred costs.

Main Results:

  • 85 parents recruited; high parental worry reported for diarrhoea (82%), vomiting (83%), and fever (78%).
  • Parents experienced emotional distress (upset, helplessness, exhaustion) and sleep disruption.
  • Median hospitalisation duration was four days, with a median extra cost of USD 252.86 (16% of monthly income).

Conclusions:

  • Short-term hospitalisation for AD in young children imposes a substantial emotional burden on parents.
  • Significant financial strain is placed on families due to child hospitalisation for acute diarrhoea.
Abstract

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