Prevalence of Diarrhea and Associated Risk Factors Among Children Under-Five Years of Age in Nigeria

Abstract

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of under-five child mortality after pneumonia. The absence of clean water source, essential sanitation and hygiene is responsible for almost 88% of the disease burden in the Nigeria. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of childhood diarrhea among children aged between 0-5 years in Nigeria. Nigeria Demographic and health survey (NDHS) data for year 2013 was used for the purpose of this study. Descriptive Statistics was used to identify the mean age of the mother, children and also the frequencies and percentage of the independent factors. Multilevel Probit Regression was computed to assess the independent factors of childhood diarrhea. Two-way table with measures of association was used to test the association of the predictor variables. The prevalence of diarrhea in the two weeks period among under- five children in Nigeria is 9.52%. The result showed that maternal/mother’s education attainment, region, sex of children, maternal/mother’s age, children’s age, source of water, place of residence, breast feeding status, family Income and mass media were found to be positively associated risk factors for childhood diarrhea.

Keywords: Prevalence, Diarrhea, Risk factor, Probit Regression, Children, Mother/care givers.

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/60-05

Publication date: January 31^st 2020