Hygiene and sanitation risk factors of diarrhoeal disease among under-five children in Ibadan, Nigeria

• Published in: African health sciences 2014-01, Vol.14 (4), p.1001-1011
• Main Authors: Oloruntoba, Elizabeth Omoladun, Folarin, Taiwo Bukola, Ayede, Adejumoke Idowu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Community Health Services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - etiology; Diarrhoea; Drinking Water; Female; Health and Medicine; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion - methods; Health Surveys; Humans; Hygiene; Hygiene Risk Factors; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Mothers; Nigeria - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Sanitation; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Under five children; Urban Population; Water Supply
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v14i4.32

Background: Diarrhoea diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in under-five-children (U-5C) in Nigeria. Inadequate safe water, sanitation, and hygiene account for the disease burden. Cases of diarrhoea still occur in high proportion in the study area despite government-oriented interventions. Objective: To determine the hygiene and sanitation risk factors predisposing U-5C to diarrhea in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and twenty pairs of children, matched on age, were recruited as cases and controls over a period of 5 months in Ibadan. Questionnaire and observation checklist were used to obtain information on hygiene practices from caregivers/mothers and sanitation conditions in the households of 30% of the consenting mothers/caregivers. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Caregivers/mothers' mean ages were 31.3 ±7.5 (cases) and 30.6 ±6.0(controls) years. The risk of diarrhea was significantly higher among children whose mothers did not wash hands with soap before food preparation (OR=3.0, p