Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: November | Volume: 10 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 40-57
Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices of Caregivers on Pneumonia among Children aged below 5 years in Migori County Referral Hospital, Kenya
Daniel Onyango Amuka1, Daniel Onguru2, George Ayodo3
1,2,3Department of Public Health, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kisumu, Kenya
Corresponding Author: Daniel Onyango Amuka
ABSTRACT
Background: Pneumonia is the main cause of under-five mortality worldwide with the burden highest in developing countries such as Kenya. Caregivers are the primary providers for their children and thus their knowledge could be used as a preventive measure for the disease.
Methods: This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study assessed the knowledge; perceptions and practices of caregivers on pneumonia among children aged below five years at Migori County Referral Hospital, and involved 209 child-caregiver pairs. Systematic and convenience sampling were used to select the participants. Data was entered and analyzed on STATA 10.
Results: The prevalence of pneumonia was 27%. More than 90% of caregivers lacked adequate knowledge regarding causes, risk factors and prevention. Management practices mostly were self-treatment with over the counter drugs and for most of the children care seeking started on the second and subsequent days of perceived onset of illness. Dietary practices among the caregivers in case of the episode of pneumonia were also unsatisfactory. Although majority (87.1%) of the caregivers was aware of pneumonia, their knowledge and practices were inadequate while their perception towards pneumonia was adequate. The better understanding and sufficient knowledge was significantly correlated with older age, marriage, higher parity, higher education level, source of information (health facility) and accessibility to television almost every day. A strong association was also found between rural residential area, older age, higher parity, higher education level, younger child age and practices regarding pneumonia management. Caregivers’ knowledge and practices about childhood pneumonia is low.
Conclusions: Health education efforts are needed to be implemented both at household and community level to increase knowledge and appropriate practices on pneumonia using appropriate interventions i.e. radio, television and health campaign.
Key words: Caregivers of under-five, Knowledge, Perceptions, Pneumonia, Practice.