PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF DIARRHEAAMONGUNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN WACHILE DISTRICT, BORENAZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Globally diarrhea is a leading cause of preventable childhood illness and death. Although a previous study indicated that in Ethiopia the occurrence of diarrhea reduced from 2000 to 2016 GC. The burden is highly dangerous for under-5 children by causing dehydration with significant death in infancy and childhood. The double effect of high cause-specific illness and the lack of effective intervention make diarrhea and its intervention a priority area for health services. Objective: This study aimed to assess the diarrhea and associated factors of diarrhea in under five children in Wachille district, Borena Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was employed and a total of 384 participants were included. The collected data were checked for completeness, coded, entered in to excel format and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Logistic regression was employed to assess statistically significant factors of diarrhea in under five children. A p-value <0.05 was considered as cut point to determine statistically significant association with diarrhea. Result: The prevalence of diarrhea in the study area was 15.1%. Among the factors associated with diarrhea, not having covered water container is 1.332 times [AOR =1.332[(1.108-3.021), P value= 0.0035] when compared to covered, those not exclusively breastfed are times 2. 846[ AOR 2.846(1.106-7.970), P value=0.0046], to exclusively breastfed. Latrine unavailability is times 4.145 [AOR 4.145 (1.245-13.813) P value 0.021] compared to availability and being illiterate mother times 4.20 [ AOR 4.20 (1.541-14.10) P value=0.004] were significantly associated with the occurrence of diarrhea in under-five children. Conclusion: The study showed that the prevalence of diarrhoea was somehow moderate in Wachille district when compared to reports from other studies. In this study, lack of latrine availability and proper use, lack of covering drinking water containers, maternal education level and poor exclusive breastfeeding practice are considered significant associated factors with diarrhoea among under five children in study community. Therefore, working towards improving illiteracy of mothers, latrine unavailability, poor breastfeeding practice and covering water containers properly are recommended to solve these problems. Key Words: Wachille district, diarrhoea, under 5 children, prevalence,associated factors.