Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers Regarding Management of Diarrhea in Children of Early Age

In Pakistan 4.446 million children are born every year, out of which 8.99% die before reaching the age of 5 years.1 The pediatric death toll due to diarrheal illnesses exceeds that of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. In poor countries, diarrheal disease is second only to pneumonia in causing deaths of children under five years of age. Every week, 31,000 children in lowincome countries die of diarrheal diseases.2 The most common causes of death amongst children under 5 years of age, not considering new borns are diarrhea and pneumonia.3 In Pakistan, diarrhea is rated as the number one killer of children, accounting for about 25,000 deaths annually.4 Every day, about 1,100 Pakistani children under the age of 5 years die of diarrhea and diseases related to water, sanitation and hygiene.5 In addition, diarrheal diseases are costing Pakistan Rs.55 billion annually as 91 million population lack access to proper sanitation in the country.