P N G Med J. 1995 Dec; 38(4): 278-83.

Acceptability of a rice-based oral rehydration solution in Port Moresby General Hospital's Children's Outpatient Department.

Todaro W, Wall C, Edwards K, Cleghorn G.

Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.

The guardians of children brought to the Port Moresby General Hospital's Children's Outpatient Department with a chief complaint of diarrhoeal disease were questioned regarding their preference of glucose-based vs rice-based oral rehydration solution (ORS) in order to determine the acceptability of a rice-based ORS. Of the 93 guardians interviewed, greater than 60% preferred the glucose-based solution in its mixability, appearance and taste, and 65% initially reported that their children preferred the taste of the glucose solution. However, after a 30-minute trial, only 58% of children still preferred the glucose solution. In a country where diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of child death and guardians are the primary health care providers, the acceptability of an ORS is critical to the morbidity and mortality of Papua New Guinea's children.