Awareness about Acute Respiratory Infections among mothers having under five children in Chitwan

Abstract

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is defined as acute inflammatory changes in any part of respiratory tract, from nasal mucosa to the alveoli with an alteration in respiratory physiology. ARI is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in children aged under 5 year worldwide. Between 11 and 20 million children with pneumonia worldwide will require hospitalization, and more than 2 million will die from pneumonia. Objectives: The objective of this study is to find out awareness about acute respiratory infection (ARI) among mothers having under five children. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study design was used for the study and semi structured questionnaire was used to collect the data .Collected data was analyzed by using frequency, mean, percentage and standard deviation (Descriptive Statistic). A total 50 mother of Bharatpur-11 and who have at least one live child under-five years was selected by using non probability purposive sampling technique. Result: The study revealed that more than half of respondents (58%) said, it is a problem of lungs and respiratory tract, (72%) were aware that micro organism is the main cause of ARI .Majority (98%) said it is transmitted through air. Almost all (96%) respondents said that baby exposed to indoor and outdoor smoke and baby whose caretaker or mother smoke are at higher risk for ARI. Cent percent respondents said the sign and symptoms of common cold is running nose. Cent percent respondents said that child suffered from common cold should be kept warm. Almost all (98%) said extra warm fluids should be given to drink and continued breast feeding, Almost all (96% ) said that sign and symptoms of pneumonia was fast breathing and fever. More than four fifth of the respondents (86%) said that the child suffered from pneumonia should seek for medical help. Hundred percent respondents said that child should be taken to seek medical help immediately when child breathing is noisy and in case of fever. Cent percent respondents said that they give warm Tulsi water to the child suffered from ARI as home remedy, Hundred percentage respondents said to prevent ARI, child should be kept away from smoke, dust and dirt, give proper nutrition to the child, keep child`s chest covered always, keep the iiichild away from direct draft, taking care of common cold immediately and completing child`s immunization on time. Majority (98%) respondent said that health post is the first person/health institution they contact for treatment. Conclusion: More than half respondents (52%) had moderate aware and 48% had adequate aware about ARI. it is statistically significant between level of awareness and type of family (p=0.03), Occurrence of ARI(p=0.37), which means level of awareness is higher in mother living in joint family rather than living in nuclear family. The awareness program can be conducted in especial occasions like mother group meeting and where the related person can get information.