Knowledge and practice of New Zealand mothers in the treatment of infantile diarrhoea.

One hundred and ninety-four mothers in the Christchurch area were questioned concerning their knowledge and treatment of diarrhoea in infants. Results showed that although traditional ideas have changed and there is some awareness of the need to use fluid replacement, there is a lack of appreciation of the importance of solutes in oral rehydration, suggesting that New Zealand is as much in need of health education as developing countries in this particular facet, as well as in other related matters.