IX NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, CHENNAI, OCT 2006

Dr. Pooja Sahni, Dr. Karthikeyan, Dr. Mohamed Rafi, Dr. Rajasekharan, Dr. Aparna,
Dr. Krishnan, Dr.Pradeepsundar, Dr.Sudhakar, Dr. Bhanumathy, Dr. Mohamed Kilji, Dr.Abi,
Dr. Vetrichelvan, Dr. Hemachitra MD, Dr. Aravind MD, DCH, Dr. L. Umadevi, MD, DCH
Institute of Social Pediatrics, Govt. Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai

India is one of the third world country infected with many preventable infectious diseases. About 32% of the pediatrics impatient deaths is due to acute respiratory tract infections and acute diarrheal disease. Large number of HIV cases were recorded. Still there is a large incidence of vaccine preventable diseases. Insufficient knowledge, immoral attitude and unsanitary practices regarding breast feeding, immunization, child rearing, AIDS, general hygienic practice still prevail among the mothers. This study is undertaken to emphasize the knowledge, behavior, attitude, and practices regarding infection prevention among the mothers.

To

• Determine the breast feeding practices given to children Detect the level of awareness about immunization
  
• Assess the child rearing practice and
  

To

• Evaluate the level of awareness about AIDS Study the overall general hygienic practice
  
• Make recommendations based on study finding
  

This is a cross-sectional study design in 200 mothers who attended the outpatient department, Institute of Social Pediatrics. They were selected based on convenient sampling method. Data was collected on breast feeding, immunization, child rearing practice by interview technique.

96% of mothers gave colostrums to the child, but 36% gave prelacteals. 67% of the babies were exclusively breast fed, still 28% mothers gave bottle milk to their children. 95% of the children were immunized. Still unhealthy practices such as umbilical stumping (15.5%), oil application to the ear and scalp (32%), sambrani smoke (38%), nasal blowing (22%), vasambu usage (33%), camphor solution (18%), neem oil (5%) were being followed. And also poor hygienic practices such as open air defecation (34%), bare-foot walking (18%), irregular nail-cutting (11%) were found.

Our study shows that there is a wide gap between existing knowledge and needed basic knowledge in every issue we find. Still there exist many superstitious beliefs. AIDS unawareness, irregular immunization, unhealthy hygienic practices. The need of the hour is to spread the appropriate information regarding the general basic health practices, intensively, to achieve a better, healthier, infection-free India.

NCPID 2006 - Conference Abstracts. Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2007 [cited 15 April 2007(Supplement 4)];4. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
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