Knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers on childhood acute respiratory infections (ARI).

A total of three hundred mothers in both rural and urban areas were interviewed and their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on acute respiratory infections (ARI) were compared. It was observed that KAP on ARI of mothers in both categories was almost the same with the exception of their health care seeking practice. Most had traditional beliefs as to the cause of ARI with only a minority knowing the causes. Only one third of mothers knew signs and symptoms of pneumonia; the majority had not experienced the fatal danger sign, chest indrawing and could not recognize it. As regards health care seeking practices, private general practitioners were identified as favorite health providers in urban areas. Utilization of government health facilities was higher among rural mothers. Self medication was found to be common in both categories of mothers, with western medicine being the top of the list.