Maternal Education and Diarrhea among Children aged 0-24 Months in Nigeria

Abstract

Childhood diarrhea remains a problem in countries like Nigeria where access to potable water, good hygiene and sanitation are lacking. Maternal education is an important determinant of health status of under-five children. Very few studies have investigated the relationship between maternal education and diarrhea in children in Nigeria. Therefore, this study was implemented to fill the gap. The study design was cross-sectional and 2013 National Survey was used. Children aged 0-24 months were investigated and the dependent variable was diarrhea status of the index child in the last two weeks prior the survey. The main independent variable was maternal education. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Logistic regression models (α=0.05). Diarrhea prevalence was 13.7% and higher (15.5%) among children of women who have no formal education, and mothers living in the North East region of Nigeria experienced the highest prevalence (26.4%). Children whose mothers had no formal education were 2.69(CI= 1.800-4.015, p<0.001) more likely to have diarrhea as compared to those who had higher education. Maternal education is an important predictor of diarrhea among children aged 0-24 months in Nigeria. Policies to reduce diarrhea among children in Nigeria should target children of the illiterate, less educated mothers and those living in the North-West. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[3]: 27-36). Keywords: Maternal Education, Childhood diarrhea, Nigeria RésuméLa diarrhée infantile demeure un problème dans des pays comme le Nigéria où l'accès à l'eau potable, à la bonne hygiène et à l'assainissement manque. L'éducation maternelle est un déterminant important de l'état de santé des enfants de moins de cinq ans. Très peu d'études ont étudié la relation entre l'éducation maternelle et la diarrhée chez les enfants au Nigeria. Par conséquent, cette étude a été mise en oeuvre pour combler l'écart. La conception de l'étude était transversale et l'enquête nationale de 2013 était utilisée. Les enfants âgés de 0 à 24 mois ont été étudiés et la variable dépendante était le statut de diarrhée de l'index chez les deux dernières semaines avant l'enquête. La principale variable indépendante était l'éducation maternelle. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de modèles de régimes de Chi-carré et de régression logistique (α = 0,05). La prévalence de la diarrhée était de 13,7% et plus élevée (15,5%) chez les enfants des femmes qui n'ont pas reçu l'éducation formelle, et les mères qui habitent dans la région nord-est du Nigeria ont connu la plus forte prévalence (26,4%). Les enfants dont les mères n'ont pas reçu une éducation formelle étaient 2,69 (IC = 1,800-4,015, p <0,001) plus susceptibles d'avoir une diarrhée par rapport à ceux qui avaient fait des études supérieures. L'éducation maternelle est un indice important de la diarrhée chez les enfants âgés de 0 à 24 mois au Nigéria. Les politiques visant à réduire la diarrhée chez les enfants au Nigéria devraient cibler les enfants des analphabètes, des mères moins instruites et des perso...

Multi-Level Analysis and Spatial Interpolation of Distributions and Predictors of Childhood Diarrhea in Nigeria

“…A possible reason for this finding could be the incessant grazing where animals drink and defecate in water sources that are meant for human consumption, increasing the susceptibility of children leaving in such areas to the diarrhea disease. 19 Another plausible reason for this finding could be the low level of education and use of unimproved sanitation facilities, which tends to increases children’s likelihood of having diarrhea disease. 2 , 36 This finding suggests that water sources and sanitation facilities in the locations identified as hotspots should be improved in order to eliminate or reduce diarrhea disease among under-5 children in Nigeria.…”

“…Some previous studies have identified place of residence, mother’s education, parental wealth, poor sanitation practices, source of drinking water, gender, father’s education, family size, and sewage disposal methods as predictors of diarrhea among children. 17 - 20 However, breastfeeding and water chlorination were protective factors against diarrhea among under-5 children. 18 A critical appraisal of the available literature revealed that no study had examined the spatial distribution of diarrhea and the factors that predict diarrhea among children under age 5 using data sets that are up-to-date and nationally representative in Nigeria.…”

Childhood morbidity and its determinants: evidence from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Although results at a point in time indicated that children of uneducated women are less likely to experience fever and cough, other results showed that attaining higher education reduces the chances of experiencing morbidity. 21 22 For instance, children whose mothers are uneducated and those with primary education are more likely to suffer from diarrhoea compared with children whose mothers have secondary or higher education. The possible explanation for these results may be that uneducated women at a point in time observed some measures which prevented their children from experiencing fever and cough but did not take measures to prevent their children from experiencing diarrhoea.…”

Correlates of childhood morbidity in Nigeria: Evidence from ordinal analysis of cross-sectional data

“…morbidity when compared to children of educated women [20,21]. There may have been some interplay of other factors which give the uneducated women an advantage over their counterparts.…”