Abstract
IntroductionDespite efforts toward the prevention and management of diarrhoea, associated mortality among infants has remained high in Northern Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and identify determinants of diarrhoea among infants in Kaduna North Local Government Area (KNLGA), Nigeria.MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey 630 mothers of infants attending three primary health care centers were interviewed. Data was collected on socio-demo graphic characteristics, infant care practices, infant diarrhoea history and mothers knowledge of causes, symptoms and management of diarrhea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression tests at 5% level of significance.ResultsMothers' mean age was 27±5.5 years and 46.1% had secondary education. Infants' mean age was 22.4± 12.8 weeks and 50% were females. Prevalence of diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the study was 21.1%. Only 11.7% of mothers had poor knowledge of diarrhoea. About 76.3% of mothers always washed their hands with soap after cleaning infants' perineum. Majority of infants (84.6%) completed age appropriate immunization while 31.6% were exclusively breastfed. Infants whose mothers sometimes (OR=2.32; 95% CI: 1.4-3.87) or never washed (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.19-5.82) their hands with soap after cleaning the infants perineumand those with incomplete age appropriate immunization (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.2-2.896) were more likely to have diarrhoea.ConclusionPromotion of hygiene and nutrition education for mothers particularly on proper infant feeding practices, hand washing practices and complete immunization of infants is needed to address the diarrhea determinants.
Highlights
Despite efforts toward the prevention and management of diarrhoea, associated mortality among infants has remained high in Northern Nigeria
An estimated 2.5 billion cases of diarrhoea occur among children under five years of age, and estimates suggest that overall incidence has remained relatively stable over the past two decades, more than half of these cases are in Africa and South Asia, where bouts of diarrhoea are more likely to result in death or other severe outcomes [3,4]
Infants whose mother sometimes and never wash their hands with soap after cleaning infants perineum were more likely to have diarrhoea than infants whose mother always wash their hands with soap after cleaning their infants perineum (OR =2.32; 95% CI: 1.40 -3.87) and (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.19- 5.82) respectively
Summary
Despite efforts toward the prevention and management of diarrhoea, associated mortality among infants has remained high in Northern Nigeria. Infants whose mothers sometimes (OR=2.32; 95% CI: 1.4-3.87) or never washed (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.19-5.82) their hands with soap after cleaning the infants perineumand those with incomplete age appropriate immunization (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.2-2.896) were more likely to have diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is the second biggest killer of children in Nigeria, responsible for about 16% of child's death every year. Diarrhoeal disease mostly affects children under two years of age, and may be life-threatening, in those who are malnourished or have impaired immunity [6,7] These causative pathogens of diarrhoea are found in faecal matter and are transmitted from the stool of one individual to the mouth of another (faecal-oral transmission ) which may be spread through contaminated water, food, hands, eating and drinking utensils, flies, and dirt under fingernails [8]. A child moves further away from his or her normal weight for age thereby greatly increasing the risk of malnutrition and impaired child development
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