A cross sectional house-to-house survey on diarrheal disease in children less than five-years-of-age was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The main objective was to determine diarrheal disease morbidity and its relationship with different variable factors and management practices during the episode of diarrhea. The survey population included 1,105 households with 2,005 children under five-years-of-age selected from the entire Eastern Province. The prevalence observed was 7.6% during a two-week period giving an annual incidence of two episodes per child per year. Diarrheal morbidity was significantly associated with age, water storage, and feeding patterns. Diarrhea morbidity was less prevalent among children receiving breast milk. The majority of cases with diarrhea were treated in health facilities where 27% were given drugs only. A solution containing sugar and salt in addition to home fluids were given to 46.4% while 23% received oral rehydration solution (ORS). Diarrhea associated morbidity and mortality in children under five-years-of-age is a major health problem in all developing countries. Health planning for diarrheal disease must be in response to both epidemological patterns and local perceptions of the health and illness [1]. Although mortality associated with diarrhea is less in some countries, its morbidity imposes a heavy burden on health services. The disease is predominantly pediatric and can have a detrimental effect on nutritional status, growth, and general health of children [2,3].To obtain baseline information, a community based house-to-house survey was planned and conducted in the Eastern Province during the month of November 1988G (Jumada Awal 1409H). The objectives of the survey were: 1. To obtain information on diarrhea morbidity and its prevalence in children under five-years-of-age from a multistage cluster random sampling method; 2. To correlate diarrhea morbidity with different variable factors and feeding practices; and 3. To assess treatment practices and the use of oral rehydration therapy, especially oral rehydration solution (ORS) during diarrheal episodes. Material and MethodsThis survey of morbidity due to diarrheal disease was conducted in the population of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. For the estimation of sample size and procedure of sampling, a multistage cluster sampling method was used as recommended by the World Health Organization in 1986 [4]. Subjects of the study were children younger than five-years-of-age and a sample unit included a cluster containing 40 households. The methodology used was the selection of a starting household for a cluster and the head of the family/housewife or a responsible member of the
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.