Diarrhoeal Diseases Among In-Patient Children under 5 years in Gaafar Ibn Auf Paediatric Hospital

Abstract

Amongst the poor and especially in developing countries, diarrhoea is a major killer. In 1998, diarrhoea was estimated to have killed 2.2 million people, most of whom were under 5 years of age (5). Design: This is a hospital based study conducted in Gaafar Ibn Auf Paediatric Hospital to study diarrhoeal disease and associated factors. Data was collected in the period from 1-10 March 2009. Setting: Gaafar Ibn Auf Paediatric Hospital. Objectives: The objective is to measure the proportion of diarrhoeal diseases among children under 5 years in Gaafar Ibn Auf Paediatric Hospital, to relate diarrhoeal diseases to the following factors: socio –economic status , gender and age, infections, and low birth weight and to measure case fatality rate of diarrhoea among children under 5 years. The sample size of the study included all the children under 5 years in Ibn Auf Hospital during the period of data collection (10 days ). Material &Methods: The study population included all children under 5 admitted to Gaafar Ibn Auf Hospital during the period 1/3-10/3/2009.The sample size was 546 patients. Data was collected by using a questionnaire and review of hospital records. Data was analyzed by the computer using (SPSS) and chi square test . The Results: The study showed high percentage of diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years (23.6%). The study showed most affected children from age distribution (0-11)month (53.5%) and age distribution (12-23) month (24%). This finding is statistically significant (PV=0.005). Male children were more affected (60.5%) than females (39.5%). The study showed no relationship between educational level of mothers and diarrhoeal cases. This finding is statistically significant (PV=0.007) The study showed (60.5%) of affected children drank tap water . The finding is statistically significant (PV=0.001). Results showed relationship between birth weight of children and diarrhoeal cases. The finding is statistically significant (PV=0.000). The case fatality rate of diarrhoeal disease was relatively low (1.6%). Recommendations: The study recommended to raise the educational level of mothers, promotion of community health educational programmes and early diagnosis and treatment .