Introduction:

acute diarrhea and mortality from diarrhea remains a public health problem worldwide, particularly in middle-income countries or low. Much of diarrheal diseases are preventable through access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene.

Objective:

to characterize the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers of children under five years associated with prevalence of diarrhea.

Materials and methods:

cross-sectional observational study, made during the period 2014-2015. Cluster sampling was conducted in the northern district of the city of Bucaramanga. A targeted survey was conducted.

Results:

only one in ten caregivers know all the characteristics (changes in consistency, number and duration of symptoms) of acute diarrhea. None fully recognize the signs of dehydration. The use of home remedies and belief in supernatural and esoteric causes as causes of diarrhea had a high prevalence. Caregiver younger, having higher-level assurance and knowledge on diarrhea associated with increased reporting of episodes of diarrhea in the last six months.

Conclusions:

49% of all respondents report that their children caregivers have had at least one episode of diarrhea in the last six months. The level of knowledge of caregivers is low. Age of the caregiver, knowledge about diarrhea symptoms and healthcare affiliation was statistically associated with the onset of diarrhea in children up to five years. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(1):21-33.

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