Knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescribing pattern of oral rehydration therapy among private practitioners in Nigeria.

To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) among private medical practitioners in Enugu, Nigeria, 91 doctors were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All the doctors had heard of ORT and believed in its efficacy. The commonest source of information on ORT was the medical school (44%). Fifty percent would recommend salt-sugar solution (SSS) rather than oral rehydration solution (ORS). The main reason is its cost-effectiveness and easy availability. Only 55% of the respondents knew how to prepare SSS correctly. The percentage of doctors who prescribe smooth muscle relaxant (spasmolytic use rate) was 41%, and the commonest reason for its use was to reduce bowel movement. The influence of year of medical graduation on spasmolytic use was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Antibiotics were commonly used, although most (76%) doctors believed that viral infections were a common cause of childhood diarrhoea. All the respondents would recommend continued breastfeeding during diarrhoeal episodes. The study revealed a high rate of inappropriate drug use and a deficiency in the knowledge and practice of ORT.