Batey Questionaire Results 1992
Three hundred ten mothers from bateys of the eastern region were surveyed. Study is part of the Training for holistic Health Project... a joint activity of International Child Care , Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicana and Uneversidad Nacional Evangelica Purpose was to collect baseline data of health needs in the bateys.
39% of all mothers were breast feeding at time of survey.
If child less than 1 year 75% breast feeding
10% Children never breast fed and 44% had not been breast fed for greater than 6 months
Only 4 percent of mothers knew that a mother could produce more breast milk by putting child to breast more often.
48% mentioned that eating fish soup or hot chocolate improved breast production IMPORTANT to promote this behavior..
Haitian customs Women throw out the colostrum and give their babies a purgative after birth
Bottle feeding a serious problem in bateys. esp. with impure water.. 80% mothers introduced bottles before 7 months of age. RECOMMEND that an aggressive anti bottle campaign begun but 25% of mothers said their doctors had encouraged bottles
Early introduction of solids a problem among Haitians ICC recommends non watered down potatoes, creamed beans begun at 4-6 months
DIARRHEA
33% of all children had diarrhea in the last 30 days
Many mothers believe the child's intestines need to rest not to work They need to increase fluids and calories and not decrease milk.
34% of mothers used oral rehydration solution
Multiple causes: impure water, dirty hands, improperly stored food.
HYGIENE
63% mothers wash their children's hands before they eat
only 22% wash children's hands after stooling (very dangerous in high worm infestation areas
71% of mothers do not purify water before giving it to children under 5
Focus groups of bateys suggest that iodine addition is most acceptable method of purification boiling takes too much time and they do not like chlorine smell and taste
FAMILY PLANNING
17% women had tubal 0% men had vasectomies
15% women used birth control (BCP)
COMMUNICATION
53% mothers had a radio but 75% listen to a radio
IMMUNIZATION
90% mothers said their children had at least one vaccination
53% children had BCG vaccine
Polio 50% children had 3 doses
DPT 44% had 3 doses
Measles 60% one dose
MALNUTRITION
10% of all children were malnourished.
It increases sharply from 6-23 months
CONCLUSIONS
Put emphasis on packet ORS solution not home prep
Promote family planning methods esp. the BCP
Teach doctors and promoters that boiling water for ORS is not necessary but if used do
not measure water until after it's boiled
Conduct an aggressive anti-bottle campaign
If water is contaminated give purified water to infants a priority
Convince mothers that they do not need to give children who are breast feeding any water
Explore causes of diarrhea and work to combat them
Promote the proper introduction of solids (4-6) months and the use of thicker solids
Encourage mothers to give children with diarrhea lots of liquids and encourage thicker soups, and encourage breast feeding during diarrhea
encourage mothers to feed their children more during week after diarrheal illness
Focus on doctors for treatment of diarrhea
Encourage promoters to make hand washing after defecation and promote hand washing before eating
Promote putting the child to breast more often and the use of fish soup to improve breast milk production
