Key Factors Influencing Diarrhea Occurrence among Children aged 0-5 in Nigeria
Muyiwa Oladosun1 Samuel Okposin2 Oluyomi Ola-David3
1Covenant University <fso8260@gmail.com>
2Covenant University (Former) <sammweh@yahoo.co.uk>
3Covenant University <olu.oladavid@covenantuniversity.edu.ng>
Abstract
The paper examined key factors influencing diarrhea occurrence among children aged 0-5 in Nigeria. The dependent variable, defined as diarrhea occurrence within two weeks of survey. Explanatory factors include socio-economic factors, hygienic conditions indicators, health and nutritional behaviors. Data on 20,984 married women with children aged 0-5 who participated in the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were analyzed using logistics regression technique. Results showed that with respect to socio-economic factors, the odds of diarrhea occurrence decreased significantly by age (oldest category), region (southern), education (highest level), wealth status (richest category), and husband’s age (oldest category). The odds of diarrhea occurrence increased significantly by region (northern), and type of work (office/non-office related). On hygienic conditions, the odds of diarrhea occurrence increased significantly for respondents who reported safe source of drinking water, flushed or pit toilet facilities, and those who reported shared toilet facilities with other households. Health and nutritional behaviors that showed negative effects on diarrhea occurrence were on awareness/use of oral rehydration, postnatal baby check within two months of delivery, child exposed to non-breast milk within three days after delivery, and breastfeeding at time of survey. The paper discusses the direct and indirect relationships with policy and program implications hinging on additional relevant information on safe source of drinking water, improved hygienic conditions through better access to portable water, and better breastfeeding practices to ameliorate the situation.
Keywords: diarrhea occurrence, hygienic conditions, socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, nutritional behaviors, children aged 0-5
| FULL TEXT PDF |  |