Socioeconomic factors associated with diarrheal diseases among under-five children of the nomadic population in northeast Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundDiarrheal disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children worldwide. Every day, more than 4000 children lose their lives due to diarrhea. In Ethiopia, diarrhea is the second killer of under-five children next to pneumonia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of under-five diarrhea and socioeconomic factors among the nomadic people in Hadaleala District. A total of 704 under-five children were included in this study, and subjects were recruited by the multistage cluster sampling technique. Data were collected by a pre-tested questionnaire. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify socioeconomic variables associated with childhood diarrhea.ResultsThe 2-week period prevalence of diarrhea among under-five children was 26.1% (95% CI 22.9, 29.3%). The highest prevalence (37.5%) of diarrhea occurred among children aged between 12.0 and 23.0 months. The occurrence of diarrheal disease was associated with the presence of two (AOR = 4.3, p < 0.001) and three (AOR = 22.4, p < 0.001) under-five children in each household. The age of the children ranged between 6.0 and 11.0 months (AOR = 4.8, p < 0.001), 12.0 and 23.0 months (AOR = 6.0, p < 0.001), and 24.0 and 35.0 months (AOR = 2.5, p < 0.05), illiterate mothers (AOR = 2.5, p < 0.05), and poor households (AOR = 1.6, p < 0.05).ConclusionsDiarrhea prevalence was quite high among under-five children in Hadaleala District, and it was significantly concentrated among children aged between 12.0 and 23.0 months. The number of under-five children, age of children, mothers’ education, and household economic status were significantly associated with childhood diarrhea. To minimize the magnitude of childhood diarrhea, implementing various prevention strategies such as health education, child care, personal hygiene, and household sanitation which can be integrated with the existing national health extension program are essential.

Factors Contributing to Diarrheal Diseases among Children Less than Five Years in Nyarugenge District, Rwanda

“…Our study found that, the prevalence of diarrhea in children aged less than five years was 26.7%. This was similar to a study of 2-week period prevalence of diarrheal disease among under-five children conducted in Hadaleala District of Ethiopea which reported 26.1% [7]. The finding of this study is slightly lower than the finding of a study conducted in Burundi (32.6%) [15] and in Arba Minch District, Ethiopea (31.0%) [6].…”

“…In Ethiopia the prevalence of diarrheal disease among under-five children in a 2-week period was reported 31.0% in Arba Minch District [6], 26.1% in Hadaleala District [7], 24.9% in northwest Ethiopia [8], 22.5% in the eastern part of Ethiopia [9], 19.6% in a rural area of southern Ethiopia [10] and 18.0% in Mecha District [11]. There are different factors associated with occurrence of diarrhea among children less than five years and these differ from place to place.…”

High common childhood illnesses while treatment seeking behavior of mothers’/care givers’ was low at rural northwest Ethiopia

“…Moreover, the odds of developing childhood illness among children of semi-skilled/skilled mother occupational status were 2.3 times compared with unskilled mothers. This finding was in agreement with previous studies (37,(50)(51)(52). This can be justified in that maternal occupation and income are factors that provide information about the level of autonomy of the woman that could empower herself to take care of her child (53,54).…”

“…In this study, it was noted a child lived in a family with three and/or more under-five children was more likely to have childhood illness than a household with only one child. This finding was supported with similar studies conducted elsewhere (36,(48)(49)(50). This could be explained by the fact that when the number of children in the household increases, it is expected that children could be more vulnerable to contamination because the quality of care and attention from parents decreases as mothers become incapable of caring for children.…”

High common childhood illnesses while treatment seeking behavior of mothers’/care givers’ was low at rural northwest Ethiopia

“…In this study, it was noted a child lived in a family with three and/or more under-ve children was more likely to have childhood illness than a household with only one child. This nding was supported with similar studies conducted elsewhere (36,(48)(49)(50). This could be explained by the fact that when the number of children in the household increases, it is expected that children could be more vulnerable to contamination because the quality of care and attention from parents decreases as mothers become incapable of caring for children.…”