Ann Trop Paediatr. 1988 Sep; 8(3): 135-40.

Perceived causes and traditional treatment of diarrhoea by mothers in Eastern Sudan.

el Bushra HA, Tigerman NS, el Tom AR.

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Mothers of Eastern Sudan seek or practice traditional treatment for diarrhoeal disease in their children based on their perception of causation. Fifty-six mother groups from 39 villages and 17 urban centres were surveyed in this study. The collected data were grouped by definition of diarrhoea, its perceived causes and practiced treatment thought to be appropriate. Differences were shown between the urban and rural groups. A longer list of perceived causes was obtained from rural mothers. Fumigation and use of rice water and custard were the preferred managements of urban mothers, while cautery, use of mihaya and goat's milk prevailed in rural areas. The importance of having the definition of diarrhoea cited in future studies is discussed and recommended.