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Determinants of diarrhoeal diseases: a community based study in urban south western Ethiopia

A Mekasha1, A Tesfahun

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 405, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

East African Medical Journal
|September 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Diarrhoeal diseases are highly prevalent in urban Ethiopian children under five, with acute cases often progressing to persistent diarrhoea. Integrated interventions are crucial for control due to complex socio-environmental factors.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Diarrhoeal diseases pose a significant health burden on children under five in urban settings.
  • Understanding the specific determinants and extent of these diseases is critical for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the key factors contributing to diarrhoeal diseases in urban Ethiopian children under five.
  • To describe the overall incidence and progression of diarrhoeal diseases in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia.
  • Six hundred and five children under five were randomly sampled, with cases of diarrhoea compared to controls.
  • Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of diarrhoeal diseases was 5.48 episodes per child per year, with 7.75% experiencing persistent diarrhoea.
  • Acute diarrhoeal diseases progressed to persistent diarrhoea in 24.5% of cases.
  • Factors associated with diarrhoeal disease included water source, immunization status, measles, and acute respiratory infections (ARI); logistic analysis identified ARI and well water as significant.

Conclusions:

  • High incidence of diarrhoeal diseases and progression to persistent forms were observed in urban Ethiopian children.
  • Socio-environmental factors did not independently predict diarrhoeal diseases, suggesting a need for comprehensive approaches.
  • An inter-sectoral strategy is recommended for effective control of diarrhoeal diseases in this population.
Abstract

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