A QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE NIGERIAN MOTHERS ABILITY TO PREPARE SALT-SUGAR SOLUTION FOR THE HOME MANAGEMENT OF DIARRHEA

This study aimed at assessing qualitatively and quantitatively the abi lity of Nigerian mothers to prepare salt-sugar solutions (SSS) (accord ing to the Nigerian standard formula) under the usual home environment . Mothers were provided with the ingredients but not with measurement spoons nor containers. 274 mothers randomly selected from a peri-urban community participated in the study. Of the 192 (70.1%) who claimed k nowledge on SSS preparation, only 47 (24.5%) gave a correct descriptio n of its constitution and 103 (54-2%) were willing to prepare the solu tion. Of the 103 who prepared the solution, 34 (33.0%) used the correc t number of teaspoons of salt and of sugar. The composition of the sol utions prepared by the mothers varied greatly with sodium levels rangi ng from 0-760 mmols/l (mean 225.8 +/- 15 5.3, median 177-3) and glucos e, 0-262.6 mmols/l (mean 68.7 +/- 54.4, median 52.0). Only 7 mothers ( 6.8%) prepared solutions with acceptable sodium and glucose levels. It is concluded that salt-sugar solutions prepared by Nigerian mothers a re not safe. There is a great need to review the oral rehydration ther apy (ORT) promotion strategies and messages in order to avoid the dang ers associated with improperly constituted solutions.