EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE MATERNAL SELF-EFFICACY IN PREVENTING CHILDHOOD DIARRHEA

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of using an educational booklet combined with a brief motivational interview on maternal self-efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhea. Materials and Methods: Quasi-experimental study carried out with 35 mothers. For data collection, the Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for the Prevention of Childhood Diarrhea (EAPDI, em português) was applied, and later an educational intervention based on the application of the booklet “You are able to prevent diarrhea in your child!” associated with a brief motivational interview. One month after the intervention, the EAPDI and a form to verify the occurrence of diarrhea were applied by telephone. For data analysis, statistical tests were applied. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: There was an increase in maternal self-efficacy scores in preventing childhood diarrhea throughout the study (p< 0.001), a progressive increase in the number of mothers who showed high self-efficacy (p< 0.001) and a decrease in the occurrence of cases of diarrhea one month after the intervention (p= 0.021). Conclusions: The educational intervention helped to increase maternal self-efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhea and to reduce diarrheal episodes in children, also proving to be an instrument capable of increasing the autonomy of mothers in caring for their children.