Diarrhoea in urban slums: Bombay.
1987; National Institutes of Health; Issue: 31 Linguagem: Inglês
Autores Tópico(s)
Child Nutrition and Water Access
ResumoBombay is one of the most developed, cosmopolitan cities in India. Yet nearly 1/2 of the population live in slums characterized by unhygienic living conditions, overcrowding, poor housing, and lack of basic amenities. People living in the slums are more vulnerable to communicable diseases and malnutrition. Children under age 3 suffer form diarrhea and dysentery. It is common practice to withhold breast milk and food during diarrhea to give unsuitable home remedies. The incidence of infectious diarrhea is greatest at the time of weaning. A survey carried out in the slums of Bombay found that 35-40% of mothers start working again soon after giving birth. The infant is bottle-fed with formula milk diluted with contaminated water by older sisters or brothers. Many families do not use oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhea. Educated mothers are more receptive to health education messages on the importance of breast feeding, immunization, and simple hygienic measures. In a study of families visiting Lyari General Hospital in Karachi situated in an urban slum they were asked about diarrhea and ORT. Most of the children attending were 5 years old with some malnutrition, almost 1/2 of them with diarrhea. Nearly 50% of the parents believed it was due to ignorance about hygiene, 18% gave other reasons such as artificial milk or teething, and 34% had no idea about its etiology. For correct diarrhea treatment drugs and ORT were favored by 63; drugs alone by 29; and ORT alone by 5. When asked specifically about ORT, 55 said that they would use oral rehydration salts, (ORS), and 13 states they would use salt sugar solution. Over 40 of the families had access to radio or TV as a source of knowledge about ORS. ORT each year saves millions of young children.
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