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Disposal of faeces of children under two years old and diarrhoea incidence: a case-control study
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila.
Insights
Unsanitary disposal of young children's stools significantly increases the risk of diarrhoeal diseases. This finding highlights the importance of proper hygiene practices in preventing childhood diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Diarrhoeal diseases remain a major health concern for young children globally.
- Child faeces management is a critical factor in preventing the transmission of enteric pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the disposal of faeces from children under two years old and diarrhoeal incidence.
- To identify specific hygiene behaviors related to enteric pathogen transmission.
Main Methods:
- Clinic-based case-control study conducted in Metropolitan Cebu, Philippines.
- Data collected from 275 cases and 381 controls over a five-month period.
- Analysis focused on comparing diarrhoeal incidence based on sanitary vs. unsanitary disposal of child stools.
Main Results:
- Unsanitary disposal of young children's stools was linked to a 34% increase in clinically diagnosed diarrhoeas (OR = 1.34).
- A 63% increase in pathogen-positive diarrhoeas (OR = 1.63) was observed with unsanitary stool disposal practices.
- Despite limitations, the study suggests a significant association between child stool disposal and diarrhoeal risk.
Conclusions:
- The disposal of faeces from children under two years old is a significant risk factor for diarrhoeal diseases.
- Identifying specific hygiene behaviors is crucial for developing effective interventions against enteric pathogens.
- Further research is recommended to confirm these findings and inform public health strategies.
Abstract:
This is a report on the relationship of disposal of faeces of children under two years old and diarrhoeal incidence from a clinic-based case-control study. Based on data on 275 cases and 381 controls recruited from 16 clinics in Metropolitan Cebu in the Philippines over a five-month period, the results showed that unsanitary disposal of young children's stools was associated with a 34% increase (OR = 1.34) in clinically diagnosed diarrhoeas and a 63% increase (OR = 1.63) in pathogen-positive diarrhoeas relative to those who were following sanitary practices. Despite several methodological limitations, the findings suggest that the exposure variable under investigation might be an important risk factor for diarrhoeas. Further studies are indicated because of the value of identifying specific hygiene behaviours related to the transmission of enteric pathogens for purposes of formulating interventions.