Knowledge and practice of oral rehydration therapy in a village in Gazankulu after the introduction of the Morley spoon

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is effective in preventing dehydration during acute gastro-enteritis, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. There is, however, reluctance among mothers and child-minders to use ORT when faced with the crisis of acute diarrhoea. This study describes the effects of a health education campaign, using the Morley (sugar and salt) spoon, on knowledge and practice of ORT in one community in Gazankulu, and compares care group (CG) with non-care group (non-CG) members. Two years after its introduction, the Morley spoon was still the most commonly used method of preparing oral rehydration solution (ORS). Ninety-seven per cent of CG members could produce the spoon when asked to, as opposed to 55% of non-CG members (P less than 0.001). Eighty-two per cent of respondents had actually used ORT in the past. Fifty-three per cent mixed the ORS incorrectly. Sixty-one per cent believed that ORT would stop diarrhoea and 29% that it was used for rehydration. Only 26% would give ORS after every loose stool, but 54% would give ORT until the diarrhoea has stopped. Fifty-nine per cent of women would feed their children soft porridge, 20% would continue breast-feeding, and 2% would starve the child while it had diarrhoea. Women who had retained the Morley spoon showed a greater knowledge of ORT (P less than 0.005) and had used ORT more often in the past (P less than 0.001).