Predictors of Acute Diarrhoea among Hospitalized Children in Gaza Governorates: A Case-Control Study.
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Date
2015-03
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Abstract
This study aims to determine the predictors of acute diarrhoea among hospitalized children in the Gaza
Governorates. The case-control design included 140 children (70 cases and 70 controls) in a stratified cluster
sample from Naser Medical Complex and Alnasser Pediatric Hospital. An interview questionnaire was
used, and face and content validations were performed. Multiple logistic regression was used for the multivariate
analysis of risk factors of diarrhoea in children aged less than five years. Results showed a significant
association between diarrhoea and family income, residence, complementary feeding, and age of weaning
(p<0.05). Children living in villages had lower odds of having diarrhoea by 53.2% than children living in
cities. Children of families with incomes between US$ 485 and 620 had lower odds of having diarrhoea by
80.8% than children of families with incomes less than US$ 485. Moreover, children who did not receive
complementary feeding had lower odds of having diarrhoea by 59.0%. We found that, for one month
increase in weaning age, the odds of diarrhoea decreased by 1.06 times (adjusted OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.0180-
1.100). The study concludes that urban residence, lower family income, complementary feeding, and lower
age of weaning are risk factors of diarrhoea among children aged less than five years in the Gaza Strip. The
results of the study suggest that children of low-income families and those who were not naturally breastfed
may warrant more attention for prevention and/or treatment of diarrhoea.
Description
Keywords
Diarrhoea, Hospitalized children, Predictors, Gaza Strip
Citation
Alnawajha Samer Khader, Bakry Ghadeer Abdo, Aljeesh Yousef Ibrahim. Predictors of Acute Diarrhoea among Hospitalized Children in Gaza Governorates: A Case-Control Study. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2015 Mar; 33(1): 1-8.