To determine factors associated with the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in West Lombok, Indonesia, interviews were conducted among 293 mothers in six villages with a total population of 54,324. This study included mothers of children aged less than 2 years. The children had episode of diarrhoea in the past week during the 3-month survey period of June-August 1991. Questions asked included when ORS was used, how often it was used, how to make ORS, and the availability and accessibility of ORS in the community. Mothers were observed when preparing ORS. More than 66% of the mothers questioned had used oral rehydration therapy for home management of diarrhoea, either as packaged oral rehydration solution (ORS) or as salt-sugar solution (SSS). Fifty-six percent of mothers reported giving ORS and 10% reported giving SSS. Only 37% of mothers, however, were able to prepare ORS properly, and only 9% were able to prepare SSS properly. The following factors significantly increased the likelihood that a mother would use ORS: watching a demonstration of how to prepare ORS (odds ratio 6.34), availability of ORS (odds ratio 2.37), and accessibility of ORS (3.50). However, the ability to prepare ORS properly did not significantly increase the likelihood of feeding ORS. These results indicate that demonstrations of preparation of ORS and availability of ORS are necessary to increase the use of ORS for management of acute diarrhoea in West Lombok.
PIP: Interviews were conducted with 293 mothers in six villages with a total population of 54,324 in a study to determine factors associated with the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in West Lombok, Indonesia. The mothers had children younger than two years old who had experienced an episode of diarrhea in the past week during the three-month survey period of June-August 1991. The participants were questioned about when ORS was used, how often it was used, how to make ORS, and the availability and accessibility of ORS in the community. The mothers were also observed preparing ORS. More than 66% of the mothers questioned had used oral rehydration therapy for the home management of diarrhea, either as packaged ORS or as salt-sugar solution (SSS); 56% of mothers reported giving ORS and 10% reported giving SSS. Only 37% and 9% of mothers, however, were able to properly prepare ORS and SSS, respectively. The following factors significantly increased the likelihood that a mother would use ORS: watching a demonstration of how to prepare ORS, the availability of ORS, and accessibility of ORS. The ability to properly prepare ORS did not significantly increase the likelihood of feeding ORS. Study findings indicate that demonstrations of the preparation of ORS and availability of ORS are necessary to increase the use of ORS for the management of acute diarrhea in the study district.