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Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Received: 24 March 2015    Accepted: 07 April 2015    Published: 18 April 2015
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Abstract

This study was conducted in January 2013 to identify risk factors associated with diarrhea morbidity among children younger than 5 years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana. A total of 378 households were drawn from four Atwima Nwabiagya District communities in the dry season using a systematic random sampling strategy. Quantitative data was collected from eligible households using interviewer-administered questionnaires and spot-checks. The relationships of socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors with childhood diarrhea were assessed via logistic regression. The mother’s age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11–11.16] and educational level (aOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 1.85–12.28) and frequent playing on the bare ground with soil by the index child (aOR = 3.14, 95% CI = 1.40–7.05) were significant risk factors of childhood diarrhea. Water storage outside of the dwelling was significantly associated with a lower risk of diarrhea (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.19–0.89). In the study communities, we recommend providing more education to mothers regarding environmentally-related disease transmission mechanisms, encouraging safe disposal of children’s stools, discouraging children from playing with soil on bare floors, and promoting safe drinking water storage.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 3, May 2015)
Page(s) 344-352
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Childhood Diarrhea, Risk Factors, Dry Season, Ghana

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Geography & Rural Development, CASS, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Geography & Rural Development, CASS, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Geography & Rural Development, CASS, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Universtiy of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Ghana

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    Leslie Danquah, Charlotte Monica Mensah, Seth Agyemang, Esi Awuah. (2015). Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(3), 344-352. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17

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    Leslie Danquah; Charlotte Monica Mensah; Seth Agyemang; Esi Awuah. Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(3), 344-352. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17

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    AMA Style

    Leslie Danquah, Charlotte Monica Mensah, Seth Agyemang, Esi Awuah. Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(3):344-352. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17,
      author = {Leslie Danquah and Charlotte Monica Mensah and Seth Agyemang and Esi Awuah},
      title = {Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {344-352},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20150303.17},
      abstract = {This study was conducted in January 2013 to identify risk factors associated with diarrhea morbidity among children younger than 5 years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana. A total of 378 households were drawn from four Atwima Nwabiagya District communities in the dry season using a systematic random sampling strategy. Quantitative data was collected from eligible households using interviewer-administered questionnaires and spot-checks. The relationships of socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors with childhood diarrhea were assessed via logistic regression. The mother’s age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11–11.16] and educational level (aOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 1.85–12.28) and frequent playing on the bare ground with soil by the index child (aOR = 3.14, 95% CI = 1.40–7.05) were significant risk factors of childhood diarrhea. Water storage outside of the dwelling was significantly associated with a lower risk of diarrhea (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.19–0.89). In the study communities, we recommend providing more education to mothers regarding environmentally-related disease transmission mechanisms, encouraging safe disposal of children’s stools, discouraging children from playing with soil on bare floors, and promoting safe drinking water storage.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Risk Factors Associated with Diarrhea Morbidity Among Children Younger than Five Years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
    AU  - Leslie Danquah
    AU  - Charlotte Monica Mensah
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    AU  - Esi Awuah
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    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    EP  - 352
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150303.17
    AB  - This study was conducted in January 2013 to identify risk factors associated with diarrhea morbidity among children younger than 5 years in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana. A total of 378 households were drawn from four Atwima Nwabiagya District communities in the dry season using a systematic random sampling strategy. Quantitative data was collected from eligible households using interviewer-administered questionnaires and spot-checks. The relationships of socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors with childhood diarrhea were assessed via logistic regression. The mother’s age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11–11.16] and educational level (aOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 1.85–12.28) and frequent playing on the bare ground with soil by the index child (aOR = 3.14, 95% CI = 1.40–7.05) were significant risk factors of childhood diarrhea. Water storage outside of the dwelling was significantly associated with a lower risk of diarrhea (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.19–0.89). In the study communities, we recommend providing more education to mothers regarding environmentally-related disease transmission mechanisms, encouraging safe disposal of children’s stools, discouraging children from playing with soil on bare floors, and promoting safe drinking water storage.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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