Moderate to Severe Diarrhea and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children in Wonago District, South Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Tinsae Shemelise Tesfaye1, Abowak Ulfata Magarsa2, Tadesse Mekonen Zeleke3
1Department of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
Insights
Diarrheal disease remains a major threat to children under five in Ethiopia, causing significant mortality. Key risk factors include household size, animal presence, latrine availability, and handwashing practices, highlighting the need for improved hygiene interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of mortality in children under five globally and in Ethiopia.
- It accounts for 13% of child deaths in Ethiopia, despite efforts to improve child health.
- Many preventable and treatable diarrheal cases still result in child mortality in Ethiopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of moderate to severe diarrhea in under-five children in Wonago district.
- To identify factors associated with moderate to severe diarrhea in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Wonago district.
- Three hundred eighteen households were systematically selected.
- Data were collected using structured, closed-ended questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of moderate to severe diarrhea was 30.9% in Wonago district.
- Significant associations were found between diarrhea and family size, household animal presence, latrine availability, and critical handwashing practices.
- Specifically, increased family size (AOR: 2.7), animal presence (AOR: 2.591), lack of latrine (AOR: 2.129), and poor handwashing (AOR: 2.683) were linked to higher diarrhea incidence.
Conclusions:
- Childhood diarrhea is a significant public health issue in the study area.
- A comprehensive approach is needed for diarrhea prevention, early detection, and treatment.
- Emphasis on personal, household, and environmental hygiene, alongside family planning, is crucial.
Background:
Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old and is responsible for killing around 525 000 children every year. Based on the world health organization estimates, diarrhea contributes to more than one in every ten (13%) child deaths in Ethiopia. Despite the emphasis given to improving child health, many children are still dying due to easily preventable and treatable diarrheal disease in Ethiopia.
Methods:
A community cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected under-five children who live in Wonago district. Three hundred eighteen households were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured closed-ended questionnaire. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into the statistical package for social sciences window version 20 statistical software analysis.
Results:
The magnitude of moderate to severe diarrhea in the Wonago district was 30.9%. The number of family members (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI [1.277-5.716]), presence of animals in households (AOR: 2.591, 95% CI [1.188-5.650]), availability of latrine (AOR: 2.129, 95% CI [1.006-4.505]), and hand washing practice during a critical time (AOR: 2.683, 95% CI [1.139-6.319]) were strongly associated with moderate to severe diarrhea.
Conclusion:
Childhood diarrhea remains an important health concern in the study area. This calls for a holistic and multimodal approach for the prevention, early identification, and intervention of diarrhea in children. More emphasis should also be given on personal, household, and environmental hygiene, as well as family planning.
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