Risk correlates of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in slums of bankura, west bengal.
BACKGROUND
Diarrheal diseases are an important cause of mortality and morbidity globally in children under 5 years of age.


OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence and risk factors of diarrhea among children under 5 years.


METHODS
A population-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums of Bankura, West Bengal on the prevalence of diarrhea and feeding practices, nutrition, and immunization among 152 children under 5 years (69 males and 83 females).


RESULTS
Overall prevalence of diarrhea was 22.36%; 21.73% males and 22.89% females were affected with diarrhea. There were 57.69% diarrhea cases in children of 7-12 months age group, followed by 25.71% in those of 13-24 months age group; with increasing age, the prevalence of diarrhea gradually decreased. Diarrhea was noted to be 20.33% in exclusively breastfed children and 31.57% in children who were breastfed for less than 6 months. In bottle-fed children, the frequency of diarrhea was 26.08%. The prevalence of diarrhea was 21.83% in completely immunized children and 30% in partially immunized children. Risk of diarrhea was 19.80% in normal participants and 27.45% in undernourished children.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study identified a high prevalence of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years. Findings of the study also revealed the demographic features, feeding practices, immunization practices, and nutritional status as risk factors of diarrhea, which can be tackled by effective education of the community.
Department of Community Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, India.
Avisek
A
Gupta
Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar, India.
Gautam
G
Sarker
Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar, India.
Arup Jyoti
AJ
Rout
Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, Swasthya Bhavan, Block-GN, 29, Sector-5, Saltlake City, Kolkaka, West Bengal, India.
Tanushree
T
Mondal
Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Ranabir
R
Pal
Children under 5 years; Diarrhea; Exclusive breastfeeding; Immunization; Nutrition