Abstract

AWARENESS ABOUT SANITATION AND HYGEINE AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN LESS THAN TWO YEARS IN RURAL AREA OF SALEM DISTRICT

G. Guru*, Dr. B. Arul*, Dr. R. Shankar, Merlin Abraham, Midhuna Raju and Muhsina K.

ABSTRACT

According to WHO estimates, 3.8 million children aged less than two die each year from diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infections. Inadequate and unsafe water, poor sanitation, and unsafe hygiene practices are the main causes of diarrhoea, which results in at least 1.9 million under-2 child deaths annually. The public health importance of some practices like hand washing and food hygiene are important in reduction of diarrhoea. Socio- economic factors may directly or indirectly affect environmental, behavioural and nutritional risk factors. This prospective – cross sectional study mainly focus on the socio demographic characterstics of children, hand washing practice of mothers, source of drinking water, water treatment methods, duration of lactation, childhood illness and level of knowledge. A total of 100 mothers having children less than 2 years are collected from rural area and information were collected from the structured questionnaires. Out of 100 mothers 85% of mothers wash their hands with soap after defecation, 66% of mothers their primary source of drinking water is from municipal tap and 67% of population used boiling water only. 58% of mother did their breast feeding from 6 months to 1 years and 16 % of childrens were affected from diarrohea. Our present study shows a remarkable evidence regarding the importance of sanitation and hygiene among mothers.

Keywords: Sanitation, Hygiene, Breast Feeding, Diarrhoea.