Version 1
: Received: 9 June 2023 / Approved: 9 June 2023 / Online: 9 June 2023 (11:07:20 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 10 June 2023 / Approved: 12 June 2023 / Online: 12 June 2023 (05:16:02 CEST)
Chari, S.; Mbonane, T.P.; Van Wyk, R.H. Social and Environmental Determinants of Diarrheal Diseases among Children under Five Years in Epworth Township, Harare. Children2023, 10, 1173.
Chari, S.; Mbonane, T.P.; Van Wyk, R.H. Social and Environmental Determinants of Diarrheal Diseases among Children under Five Years in Epworth Township, Harare. Children 2023, 10, 1173.
Chari, S.; Mbonane, T.P.; Van Wyk, R.H. Social and Environmental Determinants of Diarrheal Diseases among Children under Five Years in Epworth Township, Harare. Children2023, 10, 1173.
Chari, S.; Mbonane, T.P.; Van Wyk, R.H. Social and Environmental Determinants of Diarrheal Diseases among Children under Five Years in Epworth Township, Harare. Children 2023, 10, 1173.
Abstract
Children five years or younger in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are severely affected by diarrhoea disease, especially in the sub-Saharan region. Hence, the study aimed at determining the prevalence and determinants of diarrhea disease among children under 5 years in Epworth Township, Zimbabwe. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a local clinic in Epworth Township, Harare. A convenience sampling strategy was used to recruit study participants for participation and 386 children were enrolled in the study. The majority were male children (n=229; 59.3%), while there were more female caregivers (n=370; 95.9%) than male caregivers (n=16; 4.1%). The prevalence of diarrhea disease in the study was 25.1%. The determinants associated with diarrhea were being partially vaccinated (OR 2.38, CI 95% 2.80–8.22), collecting water more than 1 kilometre from a household (OR 4.55; CI 95% 2.10–9.85) and using untreated water (OR 6.22; CI 95% 2.13–18.20). The age of the caregiver and using a clean water container (OR 0.05; p=0.020) were protective factors. Provision of primary health care, especially prevention of disease through immunization and rendering environmental health services could reduce the prevalence of diarrhea in disadvantaged townships.
Keywords
social determinant; environmental determinants; diarrheal diseases; children; low- and middle-income country
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter: Thokozani Mbonane
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
The correct details are "Sandra Chari 1, Thokozani P. Mbonane 1, *, and Renay Van Wyk 1
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