PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF DIARRHOEA AMONG INFANTS IN KADUNA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Diarrhoea is a major public health problem among infants in Nigeria Despite efforts toward the prevention and management of diarrhoea, morbidity associated with the disease among infants has remained high in Northern Nigeria. The factors responsible for this increase need to be further investigated. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence and identify determinants of diarrhoea among infants in Kaduna North Local Government Area (KNLGA), Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which a multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select three wards out of the eleven wards in KNLGA, three primary health centres (PHCs) from the wards and 630 consenting mothers of infants attending these centres from May 2011 to July 2011. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, infant care practices, diarrhoea history of infants and knowledge of causes, symptoms and management of diarrhea. Knowledge was assessed on a nine point scale with scores of less than seven classified as poor. Infant care practice was assessed based on response to questions on hand washing practice of mothers, immunisation status of their infants and infant feeding practices. Infant feeding practices however, was explored based on mothers practice of exclusive or nonexclusive breastfeeding. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression tests at 5% level of significance. Mothers' mean age was 28 years. Respondents with tertiary, secondary, primary and no-formal education were 31.0%, 46.1%, 12.7% and 10.2% respectively. Infants ' mean age was 6 months 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. Proportions of mothers who always, sometimes and never washed their hands with soap after cleaning infants' perineum region were 76.3%, 18.9% and 4.8% respectively. Majority of infants (84.6%) had complete immunisation status for their age while some (31.6%) of the infants were exclusively breastfed. Infants whose mothers had at most primary educational qualification were more likely to have diarrhoea than those whose mothers had at least secondary education (OR= 1.6, CI: 1.1-2.4). Infants of mothers who had poor knowledge of diarrhoea were more likely to have diarrhoea than those whose mothers had good knowledge (OR=3.3, CI: 1.9-5.7). Similarly, infants whose mothers sometimes (OR=2.3, CI: 1.4-3.9) or never washed (OR=2.6, CI: 1.2-5.8) their hands with soap after cleaning their perineum were more likely to have diarrhoea than those whose mothers always wash their hands with soap. infants who had incomplete immunisation status for their ages were more likely to have diarrhoea (OR= 1.9, CI: 1.2-2.9). Non-exclusively breastfed infants were more likely to have diarrhoea (OR = 3.7, CI: 2.5-5.3). The study revealed diarrhoea was prevalent among infants in Kaduna North Local Government Area. Factors associated with the diarrhea occurrence were low maternal education, poor maternal knowledge of diarrhea, infrequent hand washing practice, incomplete immunization and non-exclusive breastfeeding practice. Promotion of hygiene and nutrition education for mothers particularly on proper infant feeding practices, hand washing practices and complete immunisation of infants is needed to address diarrhea determinants.