Container size & sodium concentration of rehydration solutions prepared by rural mothers

Abstract

Sodium concentration of samples of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) prepared by 108 rural mothers was analyzed and correlated with the size of the container and amount of water actually used for ORS preparation. In 95 (88%) specimens sodium concentration was between 50 and 100 mEq/l. Despite a wide variation in container size the amount of water actually used by most (87%) mothers was within the 200-300 ml range. Sodium concentration was greater than 120 mEq/l in five specimens and in four of these, water was boiled after mixing of solid Ingredients. these results suggest that the sodium concentration of ORS prepared by most rural mothers is within a safe and acceptable range when the right sized container and correct mixing technique is actually demonstrated to them by village health workers.