DETERMINANTS OF ACUTE DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN AGED 0 – 5 YEARS IN UGANDA

Abstract

Background: Diarrhoea disease remains one of the leading causes of morbidity andmortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a large national dataset, this study determines it’sprevalence and identifies some of the determinants in one of these countries, Uganda.

Objective: To establish the prevalence and determinants of acute diarrhoea in childrenaged 0 – 5 years in Uganda.

Design: Cross-sectional study using the 2000/2001 Uganda Demographic and HealthSurvey (UDHS) dataset.

Subjects: Information was derived from the women’s questionnaire done on sampledmothers aged 15 – 49 years and with living children aged 0 – 5 years.

Results: Overall prevalence of diarrhoea in children aged 0 – 5 years was 23.8%. TheNorthern and Eastern regions of the country had the highest prevalence of diarrhoea inchildren (29.3% and 26.9% respectively). Independent determinants of diarrhoea were:age-group below two years, Northern and Eastern regions of residence, and childrenwith history of fever in the two weeks preceding survey. Mother attaining secondaryor higher level of education, covered well or borehole as source of drinking water, andduration of breastfeeding less than six months, were found protective factors.

Conclusion: According to results of the UDHS 2000/2001, every two weeks, one in fourchildren in Uganda is affected by diarrhoea. Factors associated with increased diarrhoeainclude: age-group one to two years, children living in Eastern and Northern parts ofthe country, and children who had fever within those two weeks. Factors associatedwith reduced diarrhoea incidence include: mother’s education level higher than primaryschool, covered well or borehole as family source of drinking water, and duration ofbreastfeeding less than six months.