O RAL R EHYDRATION T HERAPY (ORT) Ceri Davies March 15, 2011

O BJECTIVES To explain what ORT is and how it can be made cheaply and simply To highlight the importance of effective health communication.

O UTLINE What is ORT? Why is it important? When and whom is it used for? How is it made? Video Health Communication tips Questions

W HAT IS ORT? A rehydration therapy made from a special combination of salts and sugar mixed with clean, safe water. Designed to help the body replace fluids lost during illness.

W HEN AND WITH WHOM IS ORT USED ? Most commonly used for diarrhea, especially with children. Pre-prepared Oral Rehydration Solution packages are available in many countries.  When these are not available use a homemade ORT solution.

W HY IS IT IMPORTANT ? Necessary to rehydrate the body to prevent death. ORS packages are often used in poorer nations as an inexpensive way of reducing the millions of deaths caused each year by diarrhea.

H OW TO MAKE IT : What You Will Need: 1teaspoon salt, 8 level teaspoons of sugar and 1 liter of safe drinking water (filtered or boiled), container. 1.Boil approximately 1 liter of filtered clean water. Boiling the water will kill any contaminating bacteria and ensure that the water is sterile. 2. Measure out 1 liter of the boiled water and in a suitable container like a pitcher. 3. Add to the boiled water a pinch of regular table salt. Stir the solution well and ensure that the salt fully dissolves in the water. 4. Add a heaping handful of sugar. Stir the sugar into the solution until it dissolves. This solution is now ready to consume. Can be combined with food (potatoes, rice, bananas)

Source: UNICEF, 2002

Sources: UNICEF, 1992; The mother and child, health and education trust., Incorrect ORT Mixing Instructions on Posters in Haiti

C AUTIONS Too much or too little salt or sugar can have serious consequences, especially in infants and children, when replacing diarrhea fluid loss. Different measurements for adults and children

V IDEO SAMPLE for-h.html Wordless video. How to make ORT in camps in Haiti to combat cholera.

E FFECTIVE H EALTH C OMMUNICATION Effective health communication involves the transformation of health knowledge into messages that are easily understood, accepted, and put into action by the audience. Use more than one channel of communication

C OMMUNICATION B REAKDOWNS Message may only reach some of the target audience. The audience may receive the message but not understand it. The audience may receive the message but misinterpret it and apply it wrongly. The message may conflict with existing attitudes and beliefs. Poverty and/or lack of basic services may inhibit action. Failure to fully communicate message may result in temporary behaviour change Source: UNESCO. (n.d.)

S TEPS IN E FFECTIVE H EALTH C OMMUNICATION 1. Clearly define what health behaviour you are trying to promote 2. Decide who exactly in the population you are trying to influence 3. Ask whether the new health behaviour requires new skills 4. Learn about present health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviour of the target audience. Source: UNESCO. (n.d.)

S TEPS IN E FFECTIVE H EALTH C OMMUNICATION (C ONT …) 5. Enquire if the health behaviour you are trying to promote has already been introduced into the community. 6. Assess target audience’s present sources of information about health. 7. Select appropriate communication channels. 8. Design suitable health messages

Questions?

R EFERENCES Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2011). Dehydration. Retrieved from and-drugs and-drugs N.A. (2011). How to make oral rehydration solution at home. Retrieved from home.html home.html Palo Alto Medical Foundation. (2003). Oral Rehydration Solutions. Retrieved from The Patient Education Institute, Inc. (2008). Oral Rehydration Therapy. Retrieved from The mother and child, health and education trust. (2011). Rehydration Project. Retrieve from UNESCO. (n.d.) Twelve steps in health communication. Retrieved from UNICEF. (1992). Basic Science & Health Education for Primary Schools, Uganda. Retrieved from WHO. (2006). Improved formula for oral rehydration salts to save children’s lives. Retrieved from