Socio-demographic, environmental and behavioural factors of diarrhoea among under-five children in Rural Ethiopia: further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey

Abstract

Background: Diarrhoea is one of the major contributors to deaths among under-five children in Ethiopia. Studies conducted in different countries showed that rural children are highly affected by diarrhoea than urban children. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the socio-demographic, environmental and behavioural associated factors of the occurrence of diarrhoea among under-five children in rural Ethiopia. Methods: Data for the study was drawn from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 8,041 under-five children were included in the study. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Binary logistic regression was used for the analysis of the data to assess the association of occurrence of diarrhoea with socio-demographic, environmental and behavioural associated factors among under-five children. Results: Children aged 6-11 months (AOR: 3.5; 95% CI: 2.58-4.87), 12-23 months (AOR: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.33-4.04) and 24-35 months (AOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.26-2.34) were significantly associated with diarrhoea. Diarrhoea was also significantly associated with male children (AOR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.05-1.58), children in Afar region (AOR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.01-3.64), Somali region (AOR: .42; 95% CI: (.217-.80), Gambela region (AOR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.81), households who shared toilet facilities with other households (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.09-1.77), fourth birth order (AOR: .1.81; 95% CI: 1.17-2.79), fifth and above birth order (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.81) and the interaction of older mothers with three or more under-five children (AOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 1.64-13.45). Conclusion: The age of a child, sex of a child, region, birth order, toilet facilities shared with other households and the interaction effect of number of under-five children with mother’s current age are identified as associated factors for diarrhoea occurrence among under-five children in rural Ethiopia. The findings carry implications for the need for planning and implementing appropriate prevention strategies that target rural under-five children.