This article examines evidence for the relationship between knowledge of diarrhea and oral rehydration and treatments given for diarrhea among young children in seven different research sites. The evidence comes from cross-sectional analyses of household surveys conducted for the evaluation of oral rehydration programs. The cross-site comparisons show that mothers or caretakers who understand most about the dangers of diarrhea are not more likely to treat the diarrhea, but that those who understand the benefits of using oral rehydration are more likely to give fluids, particularly oral rehydration solutions, than those without such understanding.
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