title: Risk factors for diarrhea in children under five years of age residing in peri-urban communities in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
abstract: This study examined the relationship between childhood diarrhea prevalence and caregiver knowledge of the causes and prevention of diarrhea in a prospective cohort of 952 children < 5 years of age in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The survey of caregiver knowledge found that more than 80% of caregivers were unaware that hand washing with soap could prevent childhood diarrhea. Furthermore, when asked how to keep food safe for children to eat only 17% of caregivers reported hand washing before cooking and feeding a child. Lack of caregiver awareness of the importance of practices related to hygiene and sanitation for diarrhea prevention were significant risk factors for diarrheal disease in this cohort. The knowledge findings from this study suggest that health promotion in these communities should put further emphasis on increasing knowledge of how water treatment, hand washing with soap, proper disposal of child feces, and food preparation relate to childhood diarrhea prevention.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania cmgeorge@jhsph.edu.
authors.forename: Christine Marie
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Neiswender de Calani
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: W Ray
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Food for the Hungry, Hunger Corps, Phoenix, Arizona; Messiah College, Biological Sciences, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Erik D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Lindquist
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population