Evaluating health education for oral rehydration therapy at a rural Nigerian Clinic: Part II

An oral rehydration therapy (ORT) unit at a clinic or health centre provides both treatment for children and education for their mothers. This unit concept is an opportunity to develop patient education for diarrhoea management. Such a programme in a rural Nigerian town used interactive small group methods and participatory demonstration to teach mothers how to prepare salt-sugar solution (SSS) as a home-made rehydrative drink. Compared to control mothers who have not been to the unit, the attenders recorded greater awareness, knowledge, skill, and usage of SSS solution and other diarrhoea management concepts. This compares favourably with other oral rehydration education programmes which have relied on mass media, home demonstrations or large group clinic instruction. The core of mothers who have attended the unit can form a foundation for future community outreach effects.