title: Individual and contextual determinants of the duration of diarrhoeal episodes in preschool children: a longitudinal study in an urban setting.
abstract: This study investigated individual and contextual factors associated with the duration of diarrhoeal episodes in 693 young children living in a large Brazilian city who were followed-up for at least 3 months. The outcome is analysed as a continuous variable, by means of a hierarchical conceptual model organizing the factors in meaningful blocks. A total of 2397 episodes were recorded (median duration 2 days, interquartile range 1-3 days). Low percentage of households connected to the sewerage system in the neighbourhood, low family purchasing power, high agglomeration, mother aged <19 years, low zinc content in child's diet, and episode severity were significantly associated with longer duration (0·26-0·69 days more). Purchasing power effect was largely mediated by environmental conditions, characteristics of the child, and hygienic behaviour. Environmental conditions acted as a possible effect modifier, enhancing the effect on duration of diarrhoea of the child not having being vaccinated against measles or breastfed for >6 months.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. carlosateles@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: C A S T
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strina
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Genser
authors.forename: A M O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data