North Galkayo mothers’ experiences and perceptions of health education on diarrheal diseases prevention

A hint about how less is more in improving the post conflict Somalia health system

Daud Abukar Yusuf

Supervisor: Dr. Mohamed Hussein Aden, Puntland University of Science and Technology
Supervisor: Professor Maria Emmelin, Lund University

Abstract

Background

Water, foods and hands are natural habitat or reservoir of infectious agents that cause diarrheal illnesses. A suggestion is that some simple techniques can easily interrupt the natural transmission chain of diarrheal illnesses among these are: treating water, improving food hygiene and robust hand washing practice in critical times during the day. Short interventions of training on hand washing, given to mothers while they are attending long queues at outpatient pediatric clinics, could be a feasible model to prevent diarrheal diseases and its complications. Such interventions create an ideal opportunity to train them; what causes diarrheal illnesses, signs and symptoms of degrees of dehydration, how to manage dehydration, when to go to hospital, and what happens if not promptly treated.

Objective

The aim was to understand how mothers to under-five children view diarrheal disease and their role in prevention and care as well as their experiences of being part in a short health education intervention to identify their concerns and the need for health education interventions.

Methods

This was a qualitative study where in-depth interviews were held with 15 mothers and as prerequisites being a mother: (i) to under-five children who have visited pediatric OPD facilities in Galkayo North. (ii) And seeking treatment for her child suffering from diarrheal disease. I had the assumption that, they could become potential key informants. Eight mothers out of the 15 had short-term health education training about the causes of diarrhea, signs and symptoms of dehydration and its classification degrees of severity; as well as about possible management and prevention of diarrhea. The remaining seven mothers did not get health education, and they have only undergone some interviews. The training happened after 7 days from the time when the mother was first met at outpatient pediatric clinic. This was aimed to give children time to recover and mothers to reflect about what the training would be like (for those who had the intervention); or spontaneously conceptualize what the interview may inquiry her.

Results

Both groups of mothers expressed their general longing for health education. They enthusiastically expressed how health education sessions could improve children’s health and mentioned that they would train children, relatives and other neighbor mothers. They said that giving health education training to a mother means training the rest of the community. The mothers who had experienced a short health education acknowledged that health education helped them to move from despair to improving self-confidence after seeing the effects of their actions. That is to say, diarrhea has been absent from their houses or almost absent for one and half a year. Overall, the mothers realized that a short intervention training given to mothers could save lives of the children if this knowledge session is adopted by the hospitals and clinics in the country as whole.

Conclusions

The study showed that a minimalist and short-term intervention could serve as preventive measure of diarrheal illnesses. The mothers recognized and recommended creating a significant health education component in all levels of health care settings. This recommendation is pragmatic, practical and simply attainable but still a drastically missing link in the North Galkayo clinics both in private and public services.