Factors Influencing Outbreak of Diarrhoea among Children under the age of five years in Borno State

Abstract

Introduction: Diarrhoea infection has been recognized as one of the world’s leading causes of morbidity and mortality, resulting in over two million deaths per year, especially children in resource-limited countries

Aim: To assess the factors influencing the outbreak of diarrhoea among under-five Children in Borno State.

Methods: A cross-sectional community study was conducted in a sample of 400 households in Borno State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select mothers of under-five-year-old children. Data was collected with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the relationships between the potential associated factors and diarrheal diseases.

Results: The significant positive associates of a high incidence of diarrhoea were increased number of under-five-children (OR=1.289, 95% CI=1.016-1.635, P= 0.037), polygamous families (OR=2.004, 95% C.I=1.321-3.040, p=0.001), non-attendance of antenatal care by mothers (OR= 2.312, 95% C.I.= 0.996-5.365, p = 0.041), sharing toilets (OR=3.352, 95% C.I=2.190-5.131,P<.001), using water from vendors (OR= 5.172, 95% C.I.=1.354-19.765, p =0.022) and disposal of refuse on the street (OR= 2.868, 95% C.I.=1.597-5.151, p<.001) . In contrast, mothers with higher educational qualifications (OR=0.121, 95% C. I=0.030-0.485, p =0.003) and the use of piped underground reservoir water (OR=6.25, 95% C.I.=1.536- 25.425, p = 0.015) were identified as factors that significantly reduced the likelihood of diarrhoea outbreaks.

Conclusion: Our study has shown that non-attendance of antenatal care by mothers, toilet sharing, poor sources of drinking water, and refuse disposal methods are significant associates of diarrhoea outbreaks. These findings underscore the importance of improving antenatal care attendance, sanitation facilities, and waste management practices to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea.