title: A cross-sectional study of socio-demographic determinants of recurrent diarrhoea among children under five of rural area of Western Maharashtra, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  About 2 million episodes of diarrhoea occur each year in India. Of the 6.6 million deaths among children aged 28 days to 5 year; deaths from diarrhoea are estimated to account for 1.87 million. An average Indian child less than 5 years of age can have 2-3 episodes of diarrhoea. Mother's literacy, family income, feeding practices, environmental conditions are important determinants of the common childhood infection like diarrhoea. The present study was undertaken to study these important determinants of recurrent diarrhoea among children under five in a rural area of western Maharashtra, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected villages of Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra, India. Three villages from two primary health centres and 652 children under five from these villages were chosen by a simple random sampling technique (every fifth child enrolled in Anganwadi). House-to-house survey was done and data was collected by interviewing the mothers of these children. Nutritional status was assessed by measuring the weight and mid-arm circumference of the child. Statistical analysis was done with Microsoft Excel and StatistiXL 1.8 using percentage, proportions and chi-square test wherever applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of recurrent diarrhoea was 9.81%. Recurrent diarrhoea was more common in the age group of 13 - 24 months (29.6%) and 25 - 36 months (23.4%) and children belonging to lower socioeconomic class (64%). Malnutrition was significantly associated with recurrent diarrhoea and 21% of malnourished children had the same. Recurrent diarrhoea was significantly more common (39.1%) among children with introduction of top-up feeds before four to six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low socioeconomic status, bad sanitary practices, nutritional status and weaning practices significantly influence the prevalence of recurrent diarrhoea.
authors: Assistant Professor, Medical Intern Department of Community Medicine, Rural Medical College, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Shubhada S
authors: SS
authors: Avachat
authors: Vaishali D
authors: VD
authors: Phalke
authors: Deepak B
authors: DB
authors: Phalke
authors: Syed M M
authors: SM
authors: Aarif
authors: Piyush
authors: P
authors: Kalakoti
keywords: Recurrent diarrhoea; children under five; rural area
references: Indian J Pediatr. 2006 Jul;73(7):585-91
references: 16877852
references: Indian J Public Health. 2006 Oct-Dec;50(4):213-9
references: 17444049
references: Indian J Med Res. 1989 Dec;90:415-25
references: 2628310
references: Bull World Health Organ. 1988;66(6):709-17
references: 3266111
references: Indian J Public Health. 1999 Jan-Mar;43(1):11-6
references: 11243081
references: Bull World Health Organ. 2008 Sep;86(9):710-7
references: 18797647