Risk factors for acute diarrhoea among inhabitants of Kampala District, Uganda

To identify modifiable individual and household risk factors for diarrhoea among people of all ages in Kampala district, Uganda.

A cross-sectional, analytical study.

Multi-stage sampling. Four purposively selected parishes, two each from low and high socio-economic residential areas in Kampala district. Two randomly selected zones per parish with 60 households randomly selected from each zone.

All members present in each household at time of study. Individual and household information collected by means of personal interview using a questionnaire.

Odds of diarrhoea among individuals or households exposed to a study factor compared with the odds of diarrhoea among those not exposed to the factor.

Drinking raw chicken eggs was significantly (P < 0.01) and strongly (odds ratio (OR) = 99) associated with diarrhoea among residents of Kampala district. The odds of diarrhoea in households that 'cooked just enough food per meal' was significantly less (OR = 0.42) than in those that did not. People who used municipal water supplies and those who boiled their drinking water were significantly less likely (OR = 0.27, OR = 0.33, respectively) than those who used other water sources and/or who did not boil drinking water to report an episode of diarrhoea in the 2 weeks preceding the survey. The odds of diarrhoea were 2.6 times greater for individuals who reported a pest problem than for those who did not, while keeping pets was found to be protective (OR = 0.43). The number of income earners was also significantly (P < 0.5) and negatively (OR = 0.59) associated with the occurrence of diarrhoea in a member of the household.

The findings of this study underscore the importance of proper food handling, preparation and eating habits as well as safe water, sanitation practices and socio-economic factors in the epidemiology of diarrhoea in developing countries.