Abstract:
Problem statement: Diarrheal diseases are still the major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. There is a general agreement that the causes of child mortality and morbidity in developing countries are multi-factorial. Open defecation is a widespread problem in the developing world. This practice facilitates the transmission of diarrheal diseases. According to Ilu district base line data reports, diarrhea is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality (HMIS report of Ilu district Health Office). However the proportion of childhood diarrheal disease associated within various determinant factors is not clearly known in the study area. This issue should be examined in both Open Defecation Free and Open Defecation kebeles of rural settings.
Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated to diarrheal diseases among under-five children in Open defecation and non-open defecation rural kebeles of Ilu district, south west shoa Ethiopia.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from December to January, 2019 in Ilu woreda rural communities. The total sample size (814 households) for the ODF and OD kebeles was distributed to the 14 kebeles proportionally to their households. The households that have under-five children were selected randomly from family folder Households were selected by stratified random sampling technique from all households which consists at least one under-five child in the study. Fourteen data collectors and two supervisors were involved in the process of data collection. Environmental status was assessed by observation checklist. Pretested structured questionnaire was used for the interviews. Analysis was done using SPSS for window version 20 statistical packages of binary and multiple logistic regression.
Result: A total of 742 households were included in this study giving the response rate 90%. Findings of this study showed that the overall two-week period prevalence of diarrhea in under-fives was 26.4%, with CI (1.76, 1.82) and the point prevalence was 3.5 %. With CI (1.952, 1.978) Significant variation was observed in prevalence of diarrhea between ODF and OD areas in bivariate analysis. children lives in Households that disposed refuse in open-field had higher odds of getting diarrhea than children living in households that disposed properly [AOR: 2.104, 95% CI: (1.43, 3.9)]. Children in households who used shared latrine were more likely to exposed to diarrhea than those who did use private latrine [AOR: 3.87, 95% CI: (1.39, 10.78)]. Children who were not breast fed had odds of diarrhea about five folds compared to those breast feed [AOR: 5.23, 95% CI: (1.35, 20.2)]. Children whose mothers had history of diarrhea had more than three times higher odds of getting diarrhea than whose mothers had not history of diarrhea [AOR:3.87,95% CI:(2.34,6.4)
Conclusion and recommendation: Diarrheal disease was major problem among under-five children in Ilu district. Therefore, appropriate intervention program should be formulated focused on identified risk factors such as lack of proper waste disposal facilities, latrine utilization, and breast feeding as a way of improving the health status of the children.
............................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library