To measure the prevalence of acute watery diarrhea in children under five years old in vulnerable communities and assess mothers’ knowledge of the route of transmission and prevention of diarrhea, as well as identify management methods.
Approach:
Key Findings:
36.4% of children had acute watery diarrhea.
39.3% of mothers had good knowledge about the transmission and prevention of diarrhea.
Only 15.9% of mothers provided oral rehydration solution (ORS) during the last episode of diarrhea.
Mothers aged 40 years or above were more likely to have good knowledge (AOR = 1.80).
Mothers with secondary education or higher were also more likely to have good knowledge (AOR = 1.95).
Mothers with good knowledge were nearly twice as likely to give ORS (AOR = 1.69).
Interpretation:
The high prevalence of acute watery diarrhea and low rates of ORS use indicate a significant gap in maternal knowledge regarding diarrhea management.
Limitations:
The study is limited to specific districts in Yemen, which may not represent all vulnerable communities.
Reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve mothers’ knowledge of diarrhea prevention and management in vulnerable communities.
