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Abstract
Diarrhoea is one of the major public health problems in Nigeria and it affects mostly under-five children. This study assessed Knowledge, Practice and Management of Childhood Diarrhoea among Mothers in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State. A total of 284 mothers between the ages of 21-49 years who attended maternal and child health clinics (MCH) in different Public Health centres in Orumba North LGA were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires; Diarrhoea Knowledge and Management Practices (DIK.AMP) Questionnaires were used as instrument to collect data from the respondents, as the researcher adopted survey research design and employed descriptive (percentage) and inferential (ANOVA) statistics for data analysis using Statistical Product For Service Solution (SPSS, version 23). Findings from the study showed that 74.17% of the respondents have good knowledge of childhood diarrhoea in terms of Signs and symptoms, danger, preventive measures and mode of transmission. Again, majority of mothers adopted all the management practices of childhood diarrhoea ranging from 72.2%- 90.5% except “giving their babies only breast milk during diarrhoea (42.3%) and (35.6%) mothers who allowed their children to defecate in bushes or open spaces. Mothers of all the parity statuses possessed high level of knowledge ranging from (61.24% - 87.99%) of the various dimensions of childhood diarrhoea except those of parity status 5 and above who possessed average (57.99%) knowledge in PMCD. There was no significant difference in the level of knowledge of mothers regarding childhood diarrhoea. The researcher concluded that mothers in Orumba North LGA are knowledgeable about Childhood Diarrhoea practice at a very high degree. The study recommended that health workers at the various MCH in Orumba North LGA should strengthen their teachings on the management practices of mothers regarding childhood diarrhoea. Keyword: Diarrhoea, Childhood, Mother, Knowledge, Management.