Formative Research on Paediatric Diarrhoea Management Report

The SHOPS project conducted formative research to determine the diarrhea management knowledge, attitudes and practices of private health providers in Nasarawa, Benue and Abia States. SHOPS conducted 41 in-depth interviews were conducted with selected community pharmacists and patent proprietary medical vendors (PPMVs) in the project states. Two written focus group sessions were conducted for pharmacists in Benue and Abia states. Results showed that while knowledge of ORS was high, awareness of ORS plus zinc as the new recommended treatment was low and there is widespread indiscriminate use of antibiotics as a treatment for diarrhea. Caregivers come with their own prescriptions, and children are often the emissary procuring drugs from PPMVs and CP’s especially in rural areas. The existence of an open-market pattern in drug sales conflicts seriously with professional pharmaceutical practices, especially in Aba state. Overall socio-cultural, traditional and economic factors play a significant role in influencing the treatment of childhood diarrhea in Nigeria.