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Diarrhea management among under fives

B Banerjee1, S Hazra, D Bandyopadhyay

  • 1All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue,Kolkata 700 073, India. bratatibanerjee1@hotmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|April 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Diarrhea affects 31.67% of under-five children in West Bengal, with higher prevalence and delayed management in lower socioeconomic groups. Prompt treatment initiation is crucial for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Diarrheal diseases remain a significant health concern for children under five globally.
  • Socioeconomic status is a known determinant of child health outcomes, including disease prevalence and access to care.
  • Understanding the specific challenges in urban settings is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of diarrhea in under-five children in an urban West Bengal setting.
  • To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and diarrhea incidence and management.
  • To assess the timeliness of fluid administration and treatment seeking behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study conducted in an urban area of West Bengal.
  • Data collected on diarrhea prevalence, type, and management initiation.
  • Analysis stratified by socioeconomic status and child's sex.

Main Results:

  • Overall diarrhea prevalence was 31.67%, highest (41%) in the lower socioeconomic class.
  • Acute watery diarrhea was most common (58.9%), while persistent diarrhea (16.9%) was inversely related to socioeconomic status.
  • Mothers in lower socioeconomic groups significantly delayed seeking treatment (beyond 6 hours) and implementing medical advice (beyond 12 hours) compared to the middle socioeconomic group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Socioeconomic disparities significantly impact diarrhea prevalence and timely management in urban West Bengal children.
  • Lower socioeconomic status is associated with a higher burden of diarrhea and delayed healthcare-seeking behaviors.
  • Interventions should focus on improving access to and adherence of medical advice for vulnerable populations.

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