Literal question
I would like to know how much fluids (name) was given during the diarrhea episode. Did he/she take less than usual, the same as usual or more than usual?
If less than usual, probe:
Did he/she take very much or a little less than usual?
Interviewer instructions
If dehydrated, a child may take more fluids than usual. We want to know if the pattern of fluid consumption changed during diarrhoea. The focus in this question is on how much fluid was actually consumed by the child.
Ask the question just as it is worded here. Read out the entire question and circle the appropriate code for the caretaker's response. Get the respondent's best judgement of the relative amount of total fluids actually consumed by the child. All fluids are included, not just special ones given during diarrhoea. For example, water, tea, fruit juice, breastmilk and formula are included as well as special fluids such as ORS.
If the child was given less drink than usual during the diarrhoea, probe: “Was he/she given much less than usual to drink, or somewhat less?”
Try to find out what actually happened, not what the respondent thinks ought to have happened. An answer such as, “A child with diarrhoea (or 'a child who is ill') needs more fluids” is not satisfactory. You would need to ask, “But how much did your child actually drink during this diarrhoea?”
It may be difficult to estimate the relative amount of breastmilk taken by the child. The respondent may make an estimate based on whether the child nursed longer or more frequently.
