A study of oral rehydration therapy by midwives in a rural area near Ankara.

Abstract

Oral rehydration fluid therapy was practiced in a rural district near Ankara. A total of 1237 children, 746 of whom were in the treatment group and the rest in the control group, were followed up for 16 months. In the treatment group, auxiliary nurse-midwives applied the fluid therapy to children with diarrheal diseases at home. A significant difference was found between the treatment and control groups with respect to weight gain; the treatment group gained 230.2 g in a month and the control group gained 189.9 g in a month. Also, the treatment group received fewer antibiotics and less referrals were made to health centers as compared with the control group. In conclusion, oral rehydration therapy was found to be a convenient and effective method in the management of diarrhea in the rural areas of Etimesgut district in Ankara.