Assessment of Factors Contributing to Diarrhea Among Infants Attending Out Patient Department at Wakiso Health Center IV, Wakiso District.

Abstract

Background: Globally diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children under five years of age, with an estimated 1.5 million child deaths per year. Rotavirus infection remains the commonest cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea among children worldwide. Each year rotavirus causes an estimated 111 million episodes of diarrhea requiring only home care, 2 million hospitalizations and 400,000 deaths in children under 5 years; 82% of which occurs in children in the poorest countries. The reported prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea from global surveillance networks and hospital based studies ranges from 6% to 56%. Methodology: A cross sectional study design involving 113 respondents selected using systematic random sampling and 3 key informants selected using purposive sampling was carried out at Wakiso health center iv. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires and a key informant guide and analyzed using EPI INFO and SPSS using a logistic regression model where unadjusted and adjusted ORs and 95% confidence intervals were established. Results: The proportion of infants with diarrhea was at 9.04%. Parents or takers of infants that went to health workers every time their infants fell ill were 0.087 times less likely to have infants with diarrhea compared to those that treated their children from home (P= 0.030). Conclusion and Recommendation: The proportion of infants with diarrhea is relatively high (9.04%). Health workers in Wakiso health center iv should hold special trainings on prevention and treatment of diarrhea for all parents who visit the health facility, they should go for community outreaches to sensitize the community on treatment of minor illnesses such as diarrhea and parents and caretakers of infants should avoid treating their children at home; they should take them to the health centers as soon as they notice ant abnormality.