The introduction of oral rehydration in a rural community in India
Kumar, V.; Monga, O.P.; Jain, N.K.
World Health Forum 2(3): 364-366
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 Document Number: 451058
One of the major components of primary health care in developing countries is oral rehydration therapy, together with the health education required to make effective use of it in managing diarrhoeal diseases. The article discusses the factors which have been found to make oral rehydration therapy acceptable, affordable and accessible to a sizable population in a rural area of India. These factors are: (1) the use of the available health infrastructure; (2) the involvement of the community; (3) the simplification of the available technology through use of local village volunteers in packaging and delivery of the oral rehydration ingredients; (4) the integration of the treatment programme into the available health care delivery system; (5) the repeated orientation and training of health staff; and (6) the use of folk media and existing educational facilities and personnel to inform people about oral rehydration therapy.