Identification of Maternal, Environmental and Hygienic Practices as Risk Factors for Diarrhoea

Dr. Ravindra Ahuja; Dr Ruchi Thakur; Dr. Rajat Ahuja

Volume : III, Issue : VII, July - 2014

Identification of Maternal, Environmental and Hygienic Practices as Risk Factors for Diarrhoea

Dr. Ravindra Ahuja, Dr Ruchi Thakur, Dr. Rajat Ahuja

Abstract :

Objective: To identify maternal, environmental and hygienic determinants of childhood diarrhoea which can be modified to improve child health. Methods: This was a case-control study matched for age and sex under 3 years children. A case was defined as ≥3 loose stools per day in a child and was the first person in the household with diarrhoea. Controls were healthy children residing in the nearby household and had no history of diarrhoea in last one month. The households with children <3 years were selected by simple random sampling method. Results: The risk of diarrhoea was 64% lower who were literates than illiterates (OR=0.36, 95%CI=0.22-0.57, p=0.0001). The children of housewife�s were significantly at greater risk of diarrhoea than working (OR=2.11, 95%CI= 1.20-3.70, p=0.008). The hand washing by mother before feeding the child and after cleaning faeces were found to be significantly associated with the risk of diarrhoea. The risk of diarrhoea was about two times higher among those where the water was stored in container (OR=1.81, CI=1.08-3.01, p=0.02). The presence of toilet facility in the house was at lower risk for diarrhoea. Conclusion: The present study has identified important socio-economic and environmental determinants that contribute to the oc¬currence of diarrhoea in under 3 years children. Mothers with some educa¬tion protected their children against diarrhoea better than mothers with no education under poor environmen¬tal settings.