Larson, C. (PhD)Teferedegn, Befekadu2022-05-112023-11-052022-05-112023-11-051991-03http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/31587A randomized field trial of the relative efficacy of three oral rehydration therapies (ORT) was carried out in 18 rural peasant associations of Adamaboset district, Ethiopia. The three ORTs were pre-packaged glucose oral rehydration salt (GORS) solution (n= 153), home made cereal based roared duration pre packaged sait (cbor) solution (n=154), and home made cereal and salt based oral rehydration therapy (CBORT) solution (n=156). CBORT was superior (p<. 01) to GORS and CBORS in terms of mean weight gain and diminished stool frequency at 24, 48, and 96 hours following onset of therapy . Analysis of hydration status indicated a higher proportion of children receiving CBORT were found in both the deterioration and improvement categories at 4 hours, but mean dehydration status at 4, 24, 48 and 96 hours was no statistically different among ORT groups. Mothers' compliance was significantly (p<.05) higher and children's acceptance not statistically different between those receiving CBORT when compared to GORS and CBORS. The non-packaged CBORT therapy was found to be as or more efficacious than GORS or CBORS in the treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea. On the basis of these findings it is recommended that replication studies of the relative effectiveness of CBORT, particularly in comparison with CBORS, be done with the view of eventually adding CBORT to ORT programs.enCommunity Based Randomized TrialThesis