The role of home environment in infant diarrhea in rural Egypt.
In 1982 and 1983, a descriptive environmental survey was conducted in 317 households with newborn infants in rural Bilbeis, Egypt. The incidence of infant diarrhea in these households was ascertained by twice-weekly home visits for a 1-year period (1981-1982). Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the authors identified household factors that were statistically associated with infant diarrhea incidence, including number of children in the house under 4 years of age; number of persons per household; incidence of diarrhea in other family members; having a dirt (vs. concrete) dining room floor; having multiple living areas in the house; having a house or roof in need of repair; using well water rather than tap water for cooking or bathin; the absence of a sewer for waste bathwater; food being left out at room temperature between meals; and having many rodents in the house. Two practices involving interaction with the environment appeared to be protective: butchering of cattle by the family for home consumption, and protection of the infant from flies by a veil during napping. The combined household variables explained 25% of the variance in the total incidence of diarrhea. Categories of variables that accounted for most of the total variance explained by environmental factors are, in decreasing order: house structure (28%); water usage (24%); toilet and bathing area (12%); animal management (11%); food preparation area (10%); hygiene (8%); and wastewater management (6%). This approach may be useful in identifying environmental characteristics whose change would reduce diarrheal illness among infants.
Wright
C E
CE
University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston.
el Alamy
M
M
DuPont
H L
HL
Holguin
A H
AH
Hsi
B P
BP
Thacker
S B
SB
Zaki
A M
AM
Habib
M
M
D000003:Abattoirs / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004175:Diptera; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007303:Insect Vectors; D012424:Rural Population; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards