Risk correlates of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in slums of Bankura, West Bengal

Abstract

Background:Diarrheal diseases are an important cause of mortality and morbidity globally in children under 5 years of age.Objective:To find the prevalence and risk factors of diarrhea among children under 5 years.Materials and Methods:A population-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums of Bankura, West Bengal on the prevalence of diarrhea and feeding practices, nutrition, and immunization among 152 children under 5 years (69 males and 83 females).Results:Overall prevalence of diarrhea was 22.36%; 21.73% males and 22.89% females were affected with diarrhea. There were 57.69% diarrhea cases in children of 7-12 months age group, followed by 25.71% in those of 13-24 months age group; with increasing age, the prevalence of diarrhea gradually decreased. Diarrhea was noted to be 20.33% in exclusively breastfed children and 31.57% in children who were breastfed for less than 6 months. In bottle-fed children, the frequency of diarrhea was 26.08%. The prevalence of diarrhea was 21.83% in completely immunized children and 30% in partially immunized children. Risk of diarrhea was 19.80% in normal participants and 27.45% in undernourished children.Conclusion:The present study identified a high prevalence of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years. Findings of the study also revealed the demographic features, feeding practices, immunization practices, and nutritional status as risk factors of diarrhea, which can be tackled by effective education of the community.

Trends for Diarrhea Morbidity in the Jasikan District of Ghana: Estimates from District Level Diarrhea Surveillance Data, 2012–2016

“…A 9% diarrhea incidence differential between female and males was found in the year 2014. Bui in 2006 also conducted a research on the most common causes and risk factors for diarrhea among children less than five years of age admitted to Dong Anh Hospital, Hanoi, Northern Vietnam which found females with high incidence for diarrhea, and also Gupta et al [ 33 ] on risk correlates of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in slums of Bankura, West Bengal, identified females to be more affected with diarrhea (22.89%) than males (21.73%) whereas in the South Indian study females had higher acute diarrhea (23.8%) than males (21.4%) but it was further reported that the difference was not statistically significant [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Under nutrition in diarrhoea affected under-five children

“…Hand washing practices were unsatisfactory and clean drinking water was not available in majority of houses. Study by Gupta et alfound incidence of diarrhea higher in bottle fed children [10]. Study conducted by Durairajet al concluded that unsafe drinking water was significant risk factors for the incidence of diarrhea [8].…”

“…Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu in 2012 by Samyaet al had 51.1% males and 48.9% females [9]. However, study conducted by Gupta et alin slums of Bankura, West Bengal in 2015 had slightly higher prevalence of diarrhea in females (22.89%) than males (21.73%) [10].…”

“…Further these undernourished children had suffered significantly more from episode of diarrhea and acute respiratory infection in the past one year than their normal nourished counterparts.Study by Singh et al on 3742 children at Kishanganj, Bihar in 2013 found higher incidence of diarrhea in children suffering from under nutrition [17]. Study by Gupta et al found undernourished children had 14.4 times higher risk for acute diarrhea than normal children [10]. Study conducted by Durairajet al also concluded that protein energy malnutrition was significant risk factors for the incidence of diarrhea [8].…”

Do community level interventions work in the same way on incidence and longitudinal prevalence of diarrhoea among under five children in rural and urban slum settings? Insights from Stop Diarrhoea Initiative in India

“…In a study conducted in the urban slums of Bankura, West Bengal, the authors found that poor feeding practices, low immunization rates and poor nutrition statuses increase the risk of diarrhoea among the under five children and health education helped in tackling these risk factors. 12 In a systematic review, Das et al also found that community based interventions on health education and treatment have reduced diarrhoea related morbidity and mortality and have potential for scale-up. 13 Based on our findings and supportive evidence from different parts of the world, we conclude that our community based interventions in urban and rural settings have contributed to the reduction in diarrhoea incidence and longitudinal prevalence primarily by modifying the risk factors.…”