1.1 Introduction
Childhood diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or watery stools within 24 hours, often resulting from infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years globally (World Health Organization, 2023). It is a major public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and timely healthcare is limited. In Nigeria, diarrhoeal diseases contribute significantly to under-five deaths, with preventable causes such as poor hygiene practices, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate maternal knowledge playing central roles (UNICEF, 2024). In Kaduna State, and particularly in rural settings such as Lere Local Government Area, childhood diarrhoea continues to pose a serious health burden. Mothers, who are the primary caregivers, play a critical role in prevention and management through home-based care practices, hygiene promotion, and timely health-seeking behavior. However, gaps in knowledge and inconsistent management practices often lead to complications such as dehydration and increased child mortality (Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, 2022).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. others are significance of the study, scope of work, research hypothesis and questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Historically, childhood diarrhoea is closely tied to the global struggle against infectious diseases that have long affected child survival, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), diarrhoeal disease has remained a major public health challenge for decades, consistently ranking among the leading causes of death in children under five years worldwide. Childhood diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or watery stools within a 24-hour period and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years globally. The organization further reported that diarrhoeal diseases account for a significant proportion of under-five deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and adequate healthcare services is limited. Similarly, UNICEF (2024) asserted that despite global progress in child health interventions, diarrhoea continues to disproportionately affect children in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, due to persistent environmental and behavioral risk factors.
In the same vein, Liu et al. (2020) stated that most diarrhoeal deaths are preventable through simple interventions such as oral rehydration therapy, continued feeding, zinc supplementation, and improved hygiene practices. Likewise, Walker et al. (2013) affirmed that inadequate maternal knowledge significantly contributes to poor home management of diarrhoeal episodes, thereby increasing the risk of dehydration and complications. Correspondingly, research by the Global Burden of Disease Study (2019) indicated that diarrhoeal diseases remain among the top five causes of death in children under five, especially in regions with weak health systems.
The Federal Ministry of Health (2022) reported that diarrhoeal diseases contribute substantially to under-five mortality, with preventable environmental and behavioral factors being major contributors. Supporting this position, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2022) observed that rural communities are more affected due to poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and inadequate maternal awareness of proper child health practices. Furthermore, Adeyemi and Oladipo (2021) stated that many mothers in rural Nigerian communities still rely on traditional remedies and delayed health-seeking behaviors, which often worsen the severity of diarrhoeal episodes.
According to Afolabi et al. (2020), maternal knowledge plays a crucial role in determining how childhood illnesses are managed at home, particularly in the early stages before formal medical intervention is sought. They reported that mothers with higher levels of education and exposure to health information are more likely to adopt appropriate practices such as the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and continued breastfeeding during diarrhoeal episodes. In contrast, mothers with limited knowledge tend to engage in practices that may exacerbate the condition, such as food restriction and reliance on herbal concoctions.
Similarly, in Kaduna State, studies by Bello and Ibrahim (2022) indicated that diarrhoeal diseases remain a major public health challenge, especially in rural areas where access to healthcare facilities is limited. They contended that poor hygiene practices, unsafe water sources, and inadequate maternal health education are key determinants of the high incidence of diarrhoea among children. Along the same line, Usman et al. (2021) observed that in communities such as Lere Local Government Area, many caregivers lack accurate information on the causes and prevention of diarrhoeal diseases, leading to delayed treatment and increased complications.
This study is set against the backdrop of persistent childhood diarrhoea prevalence, inadequate maternal knowledge, and inconsistent management practices in rural Nigerian communities, particularly in Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that childhood diarrhoea remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years in Nigeria, despite being largely preventable through improved hygiene practices, oral rehydration therapy, and adequate maternal awareness (World Health Organization, 2023). In many rural communities, including parts of Kaduna State, limited access to clean water and poor sanitation continue to exacerbate the prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases, placing children at increased health risk (UNICEF, 2024).
Further evidence suggests that many mothers in low-resource settings lack sufficient knowledge regarding the causes, prevention, and appropriate home management of diarrhoea. Misconceptions such as food restriction during episodes and reliance on traditional remedies often delay proper treatment, leading to severe dehydration and avoidable complications (National Bureau of Statistics Nigeria, 2022).
Additionally, the management practices adopted by mothers in Lere Local Government Area may not consistently align with recommended public health guidelines. Inappropriate fluid replacement, delayed hospital visits, and poor utilization of oral rehydration salts have been identified as contributing factors to persistent child health challenges in similar rural communities (World Bank, 2023). It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to assess the knowledge and management practices of childhood diarrhoea among mothers in Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and management practices of childhood diarrhoea among mothers in Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the level of knowledge of mothers on the causes of childhood diarrhoea.
- To examine the awareness of mothers regarding prevention of childhood diarrhoea.
- To evaluate the management practices adopted by mothers during diarrhoea episodes.
- To identify factors influencing maternal knowledge and practices in Lere LGA.
- To determine the relationship between maternal knowledge and management practices of childhood diarrhoea.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the level of knowledge of mothers on the causes of childhood diarrhoea?
- How aware are mothers of the prevention methods of childhood diarrhoea?
- What management practices do mothers adopt during diarrhoea episodes?
- What factors influence maternal knowledge and practices in Lere LGA?
- What is the relationship between maternal knowledge and management practices of childhood diarrhoea?
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