Browsing by Author "Njoku, Chinonyerem John"

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    Patterns of diarrhoeal diseases in under-five children in Emekuku: A hospital-based study
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2014-04) Njoku, Chinonyerem John
    This study was undertaken to determine the patterns of diarrhoeal diseases in under-5 children and the associated risk factors in Emekuku, Imo State, Nigeria. A matched pair case control study design with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria was adopted. Cases were children with loose watery feces, pathologically diagnosed with diarrhoea by the physician. Each case was captured immediately after diagnosis by the physician and administered with the questionnaire. Controls were children diagnosed of any other disease other than diarrhoea. Both cases and controls were appropriately matched in terms of age, sex, and other determinants and enrolled from the outpatient and children’s wards of the Hospital. A total of 176 under-5 children were enrolled with 88 cases and 88 controls. The results showed that most cases of diarrhoea observed were acute (93.2%), while persistent diarrhoea accounted for 6.8%. Ninety five percent (95%) of diarrhoeal cases were watery, with mean number of stools/child/day being 4.3 times (SD 1.92). Of the 17 exposure variables analyzed, only age (6-11 month); breast feeding (complementary feeding) (P<0.001); birth weight, maternal employment (unemployed women); toilet type (pit toilet); hand washing with water only (P<0.001); use of rain water and crowding index were significantly associated with diarrhoeal disease occurrence observed in this studied. The study shows that diarrhoeal diseases are still prevalent in this area. Interventions on exclusive breast feeding, provision of improved toilet type, and education on appropriate hand washing methods and improved sanitation should be intensified.