Accuracy of mixing oral rehydration solution at home by Egyptian mothers

The study was conducted by the Rehydration Unit of Bab El-Sha'reya Hospital, Cairo to determine the impact on the mixing accuracy of oral rehydration solution (ORS) of a group of mothers of infants suffering from acute diarrhea. 1 group received a special 200 ml cup and brief verbal instructions; a control group received neither the cup nor instructions. The mothers were illiterate and of a low socioeconomic class. Results show that the median capacity of home containers used was 160ml/L. The mean ORS sodium concentration (98mmol/L) for the group supplied with the specified container was significantly lower than the ORS sodium concentration (123 mmol/L) of the group that used home containers (p 0.02). All mothers who received the 200 ml cup from the medical unit used it. 96% of mothers in both groups were ready to use ORS in the future. The present study showed that mothers mixing premarked ORS containers along with brief instructions and the 200 ml cups dispensed with the ORS container were more accurate because the standard container was provided. There is no financial obstacle to providing such containers since the cost in Egypt is US$0.1. Such containers could be provided free if Egyptian companies producing pediatric medicines would agree to such containers away as promotional tools.