Pattern of Maternal Knowledge and Its Implications for Diarrhoea Control in Southern Malawi: Multilevel Thresholds of Change Analysis
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Area
2.2. Sample
2.3. Variables
2.3.1. Outcome Variables
Variable | Mean | Median | Min. | Max. | N = 1389 | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
What are the symptoms of diarrhoea? | ||||||
1. Watery stools | 1,171 | 84.3 | ||||
2. Increased number of stools | 183 | 13.2 | ||||
3. Loose stools | 383 | 27.6 | ||||
4. Loose stools and vomiting | 175 | 12.6 | ||||
5. Bloody stools | 183 | 13.2 | ||||
6. Stomach-ache | 492 | 35.4 | ||||
What are the causes of diarrhoea | ||||||
1. Contaminated water | 765 | 55.1 | ||||
2. Contaminated food | 619 | 44.6 | ||||
3. Flies | 376 | 27.1 | ||||
4. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices | 703 | 50.6 | ||||
5. Poor sanitation practices | 111 | 8.0 | ||||
What action do you take to prevent diarrhoea? | ||||||
1. Add disinfectant (water guard, chlorine, etc.) to water | 421 | 30.3 | ||||
2. Good water hygiene or management | 357 | 25.7 | ||||
3. Good food hygiene or management | 78 | 5.6 | ||||
4. Proper cleaning of cooking and eating utensils | 332 | 23.9 | ||||
5. Good sanitation | 278 | 20.0 | ||||
6. Hands washing | 307 | 22.1 | ||||
Number of Symptoms identified | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ||
Zero or one symptom | 351 | 25.3 | ||||
Two symptoms | 672 | 48.4 | ||||
Three or more symptoms | 366 | 26.3 | ||||
Number of Causes identified | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ||
No single cause mentioned | 61 | 4.4 | ||||
One cause mentioned | 590 | 42.5 | ||||
Two causes mentioned | 365 | 26.3 | ||||
Three or more causes mentioned | 373 | 26.9 | ||||
Prevention methods identified | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | ||
No prevention method | 435 | 31.3 | ||||
One prevention method | 404 | 29.1 | ||||
Two prevention methods | 338 | 24.3 | ||||
Three or more methods | 212 | 15.3 | ||||
Overall knowledge | 5 | 5 | 0 | 14 | ||
Zero to three points | 305 | 22.0 | ||||
Four to five points | 498 | 35.9 | ||||
Six to seven points | 438 | 31.5 | ||||
Eight or more points | 148 | 10.7 |
2.3.2. Explanatory Variables Included in the Models
2.4. Statistical Analysis and Estimation
3. Results
Variable | Mean | Median | Min. | Max. | N = 1389 | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mother attended School | |||||||
1. None | 290 | 20.9 | |||||
2. Primary | 812 | 58.5 | |||||
3. At least secondary | 287 | 20.7 | |||||
Type of Health Facility | |||||||
1. Government hospital | 417 | 30.0 | |||||
2. Government health centre | 672 | 48.4 | |||||
3. Christian Association of Malawi (CHAM) | 189 | 13.6 | |||||
4. Local health post | 21 | 1.5 | |||||
5. Local private clinic | 90 | 6.5 | |||||
Whether Non Governmental Organisation(NGO) | |||||||
1. Exists | 611 | 44.0 | |||||
2. Does not exist | 778 | 56.0 | |||||
Whether Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) | |||||||
1. Exists | 951 | 68.5 | |||||
2. Does not exist | 438 | 31.5 | |||||
Maternal age | 35 | 30 | 15 | 89 | 1,389 | 100 |
Variable | Estimate | 95% CI |
---|---|---|
Threshold | ||
| −1.465 | (−1.986,−0.944) |
| 1.053 | (0.508,1.598) |
No School | (Reference group) | |
Primary school | ||
| −0.233 | (−0.572,0.106) |
| −0.572 | (−0.935,−0.209) |
Secondary School | ||
| −0.364 | (−0.795,0.067) |
| −0.534 | (−0.975,−0.093) |
Government hospital | (Reference group) | |
Government Health centre | ||
| 0.238 | (−0.148,0.624) |
| 0.323 | (−0.055,0.701) |
CHAM | ||
| 0.684 | (0.092,1.276) |
| 1.331 | (0.725,1.937) |
Health Post | ||
| 1.023 | (0.049,1.997) |
| 1.307 | (−0.081,2.695) |
Local private clinic | ||
| −0.063 | (−0.806,0.680) |
| −0.170 | (−0.781,0.441) |
Age | ||
| −0.306 | (−0.453,−0.159) |
| 0.028 | (−0.113,0.169) |
NGO exists | (Reference group) | |
NGO does not exist | 0.275 | (−0.011,0.561) |
HSA exists | (Reference group) | |
HSA does not exist | −0.091 | (−0.328,0.146) |
Community effects | 0.623 | (0.219,1.027) |
Variable | Causes of diarrhoea | Prevention methods | Overall knowledge on diarrhoea | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
estimate | 95% CI | estimate | 95% CI | estimate | 95% CI | |
Threshold | −4.122 | (−4.782,−3.461) | −0.803 | (−1.160,−0.446) | −1.653 | (−2.235,−1.071) |
| −0.756 | (−1.211,−0.301) | 0.737 | (0.380,1.094) | −0.137 | (−0.691,0.418) |
| 0.615 | (0.158,1.072) | 2.209 | (1.750,2.668) | 1.281 | (0.601,1.961) |
Primary school | −0.069 | (−0.339,0.201) | −0.090 | (−0.349,0.169) | −0.289 | (−0.554,−0.024) |
| ||||||
| ||||||
Secondary School | 0.070 | (−0.275,0.415) | −0.415 | (−0.740,−0.090) | −0.418 | (−0.757,−0.079) |
| ||||||
| ||||||
Health centre | 0.625 | (0.307,0.942) | −0.170 | (−0.491,0.151) | 0.199 | (−0.118,0.516) |
| −0.583 | (−0.902,−0.263) | ||||
| −0.357 | (−0.764,0.051) | ||||
CHAM | 1.044 | (0.518,1.569) | 0.220 | (−0.237,0.677) | 0.940 | (0.436,1.444) |
| −0.211 | (−0.652,0.230) | ||||
| −0.053 | (−0.610,0.504) | ||||
Health Post | −0.244 | (−1.085,0.597) | −0.092 | (−1.127,0.943) | 0.054 | (−0.765,0.873) |
| −0.716 | (−1.633,0.201) | ||||
| −0.019 | (−1.366,1.327) | ||||
Local private clinic | 0.844 | (0.276,1.412) | 0.247 | (−0.312,0.806) | 0.442 | (−0.099,0.983) |
| 0.127 | (−0.412,0.666) | ||||
| 0.150 | (−0.558,0.858) | ||||
Age | 0.126 | (0.020,0.232) | 0.180 | (0.074,0.286) | 0.002 | (−0.008,0.012) |
| 0.008 | (0.000,0.016) | ||||
| 0.025 | (0.009,0.041) | ||||
No NGO | −0.030 | (−0.297,0.237) | 0.278 | (0.002,0.554) | 0.207 | (−0.056,0.470) |
| 0.142 | (−0.117,0.401) | ||||
| −0.007 | (−0.336,0.322) | ||||
No HSA | 1.040 | (0.507,1.573) | 0.617 | (0.362,0.872) | 0.605 | (0.380,0.830) |
| 0.571 | (0.320,0.822) | 0.466 | (0.217,0.715) | ||
| 0.611 | (0.323,0.899) | 0.578 | (0.225,0.931) | ||
Community effects ( | 0.352 | (0.085,0.619) | 0.063 | (−0.027,0.153) | 0.366 | (0.107,0.625) |
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
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Masangwi, S.J.; Grimason, A.M.; Morse, T.D.; Kazembe, L.; Ferguson, N.; Jabu, G.C. Pattern of Maternal Knowledge and Its Implications for Diarrhoea Control in Southern Malawi: Multilevel Thresholds of Change Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 955-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9030955
Masangwi SJ, Grimason AM, Morse TD, Kazembe L, Ferguson N, Jabu GC. Pattern of Maternal Knowledge and Its Implications for Diarrhoea Control in Southern Malawi: Multilevel Thresholds of Change Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2012; 9(3):955-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9030955
Chicago/Turabian StyleMasangwi, Salule Joseph, Anthony Martin Grimason, Tracy Dawn Morse, Lawrence Kazembe, Neil Ferguson, and George Christopher Jabu. 2012. "Pattern of Maternal Knowledge and Its Implications for Diarrhoea Control in Southern Malawi: Multilevel Thresholds of Change Analysis" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 9, no. 3: 955-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9030955
APA StyleMasangwi, S. J., Grimason, A. M., Morse, T. D., Kazembe, L., Ferguson, N., & Jabu, G. C. (2012). Pattern of Maternal Knowledge and Its Implications for Diarrhoea Control in Southern Malawi: Multilevel Thresholds of Change Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 9(3), 955-969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9030955