Abstract:

Introduction: Diarrhea is a gastrointestinal disorder characterised by the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day or more frequently than a normal individual should have. It can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic), varying from mild to severe. Aim: The study aimed to explore the perspectives of nursing mothers in Ibadan North East local government markets regarding childhood diarrhoea management. Method: A qualitative study was conducted among mothers of children between 0-59 months at Ibadan, precisely Ibadan Northeast local government. The study was conducted in selected Ibadan North East Local Government markets. The selection of these markets for the study was based on their high population of women with children and the moderate commercial activities. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 29 nursing mothers who were interviewed until data saturation was reached. Data was analysed using the QSR NVIVO 12 software program. Verbatim transcription was conducted while listening to the recording. The thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Results:This study revealed that a significant diarrhoea management pattern is using herbal mixtures and several concoctions. The primary determinant factor for this management is the strong cultural belief of the Yoruba in this herbal mixture, and Yorubas were the most populous in this research setting. Subthemes that emerged include Management options and the mother's level of knowledge, Traditional management of different types of childhood diarrhoea and actions taken during managing childhood diarrhoea. Conclusion: This study shows that the majority of nursing mothers in Ibadan markets have a wrong perspective of childhood diarrhoea management, and this could be linked to their age, culture, education, and financial capability. Keywords: Diarrhea, Nursing mothers, Children, Management