Early childhood experience in Nepal: a study of sickness, treatment and mortality.

This article reports on a longitudinal study of almost 7,000 children under six years in selected villages in Nepal, giving their morbidity and mortality history, treatments given and costs involved. The study suggests that about two children out of three are defined as sick by their mothers in any given year and that treatment is sought for about 40 percent of sickness in small children. Three of four children treated are treated by scientific medicine, that is by physicians, nurses or pharmacists. The principal causes of death are fevers and diarrhea. Education of mothers in spacing of births, hygiene, nutrition and rehydration therapy would appear to be the most important primary health care service, along with increased access to potable water and to medical clinics.