TITLE:
Prevalence of diarrhoea and its associated factors in children under five years of age in Baghdad, Iraq
AUTHORS:
Harith Alaa, Shamsul Azhar Shah, Abdul Rashid Khan
KEYWORDS:
Diarrhoea; Children; Iraq
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
17,
2014
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Diarrhoeal disease is
one of the principal causes of morbidity and
mortality among children in developing countries. Poor nutrition leads
to ill health and it contributes to further deterioration in nutritional
status. Methodology: A cross-sectional
study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq. The study was conducted in three paediatric
hospitals and from paediatric departments in other three general hospitals in
Baghdad, Iraq. Sample was drawn conveniently, three paediatric hospitals from
Baghdad hospital list. 150 respondents were chosen from these paediatric
hospitals and 50 respondents were chosen from the paediatric departments in
three general hospitals. Results: males had twice the
risk of diarrhoea (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1; 3.5). The risk of diarrhoea was 3 times higher
among children with mothers who had lower level of education (OR 3.5 95% CI
1.3; 10.1), 5 times higher with unemployed mothers (OR 4.7 95% CI 2.1; 10.4)
and 2 times higher with mothers who had poor nutritional knowledge (OR 2.5 95%
CI 1.4; 4.9). The risk of diarrhoea was
three times higher among children with fathers who had lower level of
education (OR 3.3 95% CI 1.7; 6.6). The binomial logistics regression, Mothers’
level of education and employment status, fathers’ level of education, mothers’
nutritional knowledge were used as possible independent associated factors. Conclusion: Children
in Baghdad remain at risk of frequent diarrhoea episodes and other
complications which might affect their development status. It is becoming
increasingly important to focus on improving the underlying factors by
increasing the mother nutritional knowledge through special antenatal
classes, and improving family economic status.