[Acute diarrheal diseases and feeding practices among children under five years in Mexico]

Elizabeth Ferreira-Guerrero1, Norma Mongua-Rodríguez1, José Luis Díaz-Ortega1

  • 1Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.

Insights

Acute diarrheal diseases (ADD) prevalence in children under five decreased from 2006 to 2012, especially in lower socioeconomic groups. Reinforcing preventive and treatment practices among caregivers is crucial.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Context:

  • Acute diarrheal diseases (ADD) pose a significant health risk to children under five.
  • Understanding prevalence, warning signs, and feeding practices is vital for effective public health interventions.

Purpose:

  • To estimate the prevalence of ADD in children under five.
  • To describe parental recognition of alarm signs and feeding practices during ADD episodes.

Summary:

  • ADD prevalence declined from 13.1% in 2006 to 11.0% in 2012, with a notable decrease in lower socioeconomic status populations.
  • Parents and caregivers (PCG) primarily identified frequent bowel movements as a warning sign, overlooking critical indicators like crying without tears or blood in feces.
  • Only 42% of PCG reported administering oral rehydration therapy (ORT), highlighting a gap in appropriate treatment practices.

Impact:

  • Findings underscore the need for enhanced education on recognizing severe ADD symptoms and promoting ORT administration.
  • Targeted interventions for lower socioeconomic groups and younger mothers are recommended to further reduce ADD incidence and improve child health outcomes.
Abstract

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