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Fluid intake and feeding practices during diarrhoea in Odukpani, Nigeria
1Department of Community Health, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Insights
Children with diarrhea often have low fluid intake, receiving less food and fluid than usual. Breastfeeding also declines, highlighting the need for targeted health education on home management of diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition
Background:
- Diarrhea remains a significant health challenge for children under five globally.
- Inadequate fluid and nutritional management during diarrheal episodes can lead to severe dehydration and malnutrition.
- Understanding current feeding and fluid intake practices is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess fluid intake and feeding practices in children under five during diarrheal episodes.
- To quantify the consumption of salt-sugar solution (SSS) and oral rehydration solution (ORS).
- To evaluate the proportion of children receiving adequate food and fluid compared to their pre-diarrheal state.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Data collection on fluid intake (SSS, ORS) and food consumption during diarrhea.
- Assessment of breastfeeding continuation.
Main Results:
- Low fluid intake was observed, with average consumption of 368 ml SSS and 274 ml ORS in the 24 hours preceding the study.
- Only 54.0% of children received similar or more food, and 43.3% received similar or more fluid compared to their baseline.
- Fewer than half of the children continued breastfeeding during the diarrheal episode.
Conclusions:
- Current fluid and food intake practices during childhood diarrhea are suboptimal.
- There is a critical need for targeted health education to improve home-based management of diarrhea, focusing on adequate hydration and nutrition.
- Interventions should emphasize the importance of continued breastfeeding and appropriate oral rehydration therapies.
Abstract:
This study was designed to determine the fluid intake and feeding practices among under five year old children during episodes of diarrhoea. Fluid intake was low. The average amount of salt-sugar solution (SSS) and WHO/UNICEF recommended oral rehydration solution (ORS) formula drank within the preceding 24 hours of diarhoea was 368 mls and 274 mls respectively. Only 54.0% and 43.3% of children received same or more food and fluid respectively as compared with before the diarrhoea. Less than half of the children continued breastfeeding. Targeted health education, with emphasis on these findings, are recommended for improving fluid and food intake in the home management of diarrhoea.