Knowledge and perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of diarrhoea among children under five years living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe the knowledge and perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of diarrhoea among children under five years living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim was to assist in correcting the negative perceptions of the causes of under five child diarrhoea through improved educational interventions. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured and face-to-face interviews from seven participants who were parents and caregivers of under-five children presenting with diarrhoea or admitted for the management of diarrhoea at a specific hospital and thematic analysis was done. The findings revealed that the participants had inadequate knowledge and lacked understanding of diarrhoea and its causes. Participants could not mention all the causes and risk factors associated with diarrhoea. Noteworthy is that the participants’ perceived diarrhoea as a serious condition. The study recommends that the implementation of policies regarding public education and health promotion programmes be targeted at educating parents and caregivers