A study on WASH practices and under five (U5) morbidity pattern using remote sensing and geographical information system in Udupi Taluk

Abstract

Millennium development goals seven (MDG-7) emphasizes about environmental sustainability. Globally one in five habitually defecates in open and globally, about 13% of world population collects water from unprotected sources; most of the Asian cities fail to meet national water quality standards. MDG Goal-4 targets reducing child mortality. Under the age group of five years diarrhoea is the second biggest cause of death cause by poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices. Worldwide unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene leads to 80% of diarrhoea.India accounts to 60% of world’s open defecation, only 31% of population use improved sanitation, in rural areas it’s about 21%. In India diarrhoea kills one child per minute. Diarrhoea and respiratory infection are the leading cause of deaths in India. Over 40% of the diarrhoea and 30% of the respiratory infection among children can be reduced, particularly by practicing hand wash with soap after contacted with excreta. An adequate water supply and basic sanitation are important elements of primary health care. This study is an attempt to fill the gap in understanding WASH practices and morbidity pattern among under five children in Udupi taluk.The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity pattern and factors associated with it among U5 children, to identify water, sanitation and hygiene practices in the community and to map morbidity patterns of U5 children in relation to water sources. A cross sectional study was conducted in between February 2015 to June 2015 across Udupi taluk among 258 children between the age group of three to 59 months, mixed method study design approach was used.Of the 258 children, 55.4% participants were female. Majority of the participants lived in nuclear families (64.7%). The current illness of ARI was 7.5% followed by pneumonia (4.7%) and diarrhoea (2.8%). Prevalence of ARI over a period of three months was 76.4% followed by fever 56.2% and diarrhoea (22.1%). Most of the parents preferred private setting for treatment of their children. On assessing weight for age 16.5% children were underweight and 8.8% were thin on assessing weight for length. Boys were thinner compare to female. Most of the households used improved sources of drinking water (95.3%) and adequate sanitary facilities (89.5%). Among them 58.1% drew water from protected dug wells. For drinking purpose, 24% of participants travelled outside the premises to fetch water from improved source, and at household level 61.6% used adequate water treatment methods. A minimal number of participants practiced open defecation of about 5%. Almost the participants washed their hands before feeding the child (98.8%) and 56.1% used water and soap. Logistic regression showed children less than 2 year were 4.26 times more likely to suffer from diarrhoea compared to the age group of 2 to 5 years. Association of fever and cough showed statistical significance. Qualitative data showed cause of diarrhoea was mainly due to food poisoning, unhygienic food; eating food from outside food and the main organism was viral followed by bacteria. Fever and cough were due to cross infection.