Risk Factors and Case Management of Acute Diarrhoea in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, evidence is lacking about maternal care-taking and environmental risk factors that contribute
to acute diarrhoea and the case management of diarrhoea. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors
and to understand the management of acute diarrhoea. A pretested structured questionnaire was used
for interviewing mothers of 440 children in a prospective, matched, case-control study at the University of
Gondar Referral and Teaching Hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia. Results of multivariate analysis demonstrated
that children who were breastfed and not completely weaned and mothers who were farmers were protective
factors; risk factors for diarrhoea included sharing drinking-water and introducing supplemental foods.
Children presented with acute diarrhoea for 3.9 days with 4.3 stools per day. Mothers usually did not increase
breastmilk and other fluids during diarrhoea episodes and generally did not take children with diarrhoea
to traditional healers. Incorporating messages about the prevention and treatment of acute diarrhoea
into child-health interventions will help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.

Key words: Case-control studies; Case management; Diarrhoea, Acute; Oral rehydration solution; Prospective
studies; Risk factors; Ethiopia

DOI: 10.3329/jhpn.v28i3.5552

J HEALTH POPUL NUTR 2010 Jun;28(3):253-263