European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Acute diarrheal diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms through faeco-oral contamination. Lack of health care services, public awareness, maternal education, poor environmental sanitation and hygiene, poor water and food hygiene, poverty, malnutrition, inappropriate feeding practices making situation even worst in developing countries. So, this study was undertaken to study risk factors for acute diarrhea disease.
Objective: Tostudy various risk factors like demographic profile, parental factors and feeding practices in children under 5 years of age groups having acute diarrheal condition.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study enrolled total 400 children under 5 years of age having acute diarrhea according to WHO definition. Data was collected using proforma. Parents (esp. Mothers) were enrolled regarding their education and personal hygiene and habits.
Result: Among the 400 children, majority around 71.4% were between 6 months to 2 years of age group coming from lower-middle socio-economic class. Around 76.5% children came from overcrowded place. Only 30% children were given exclusively breast feeding till 6 months and 41.2% children were given bottle feeding and 72.1% children between 2 years to 5 years were given packet food on daily basis even-though coming from lower socio-economic class. Less number of children having diarrhea where good hand hygiene was present and good hand hygiene practice was more in higher educated mothers. Health education and preventive measures on diarrhea was given to community during the interview.
Conclusion: Promoting health education and hand washing practice in parents (esp. mothers) are utmost priority. Awareness about exclusive breast feeding till 6 months of age and knowledge about complimentary feeding is important part in prevention of acute diarrhea in children.