In rural Bangladesh, mothers were interviewed to identify factors that determine the use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for management of diarrhoea in children aged less than 5 years. The point prevalence of diarrhoea among 1,600 children was 11.6%, with 46% having acute watery diarrhoea. The overall ORT-use rate was 29%; only 17% of the cases used it adequately. Common reasons for not using ORS included misperception about diarrhoea and age of patients. Other reasons included incorrect assessments, severity, and difficulties with the administration of oral rehydration solutions. Promotion of ORT can be effected by improving the level of understanding of mothers with regard to assessment of severity, early initiation of treatment regardless of age, sex, type of diarrhoea, breast-feeding, and nutrition status.