Mothers’ Knowledge and Home-Based Practices for Preventing Diarrhea in Children Under Five: A Descriptive Study in Kerbela Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Iraq

Abstract

Diarrheal disease: It is frequently unknown how often bacteria cause diarrhea when assessed in ambulatory settings. We attempted to develop criteria for bacterial culture and identify the microbiological causes of diarrhea in a clinic that primarily serves immigrant children and in a private pediatric practice. Diarrhea is often caused by infections, food intolerance, digestive disorders, or contaminated water and food. It can lead to dehydration, especially in young children and the elderly, making proper hydration and medical attention crucial in severe cases. A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized. The study was conducted from 15 June 2024 to 13 August 2024. A non-probability (convenience) sample of 100 mothers of children under five years of age was selected. Data were collected via a questionnaire assessing mothers’ knowledge. The data were described statistically and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. The findings of the present study indicate that mothers demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge and practice related to diarrhea prevention, with 47.5% of participants falling within the moderate range. The level of mothers’ knowledge and practice showed a significant association with their educational level. However, the results section should include additional statistical details—such as mean scores, standard deviations, and P— to fully support the reported associations. The study concludes that mothers’ responses across the assessed domains were significantly associated with both their educational level and their children’s sociodemographic characteristics. Based on these findings, it is recommended that community-based diarrhea prevention programs adopt a mother’s self-efficacy assessment scale to identify perceived risks and to design targeted interventions aimed at strengthening and sustaining diarrhea prevention behaviors at the household level.