Title | Improved Water and Waste Management Practices Reduce Diarrhea Risk in Children under Age Five in Rural Tanzania: A Community-Based, Cross-Sectional Analysis. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | McClelland PH, Kenney CT, Palacardo F, Roberts NLS, Luhende N, Chua J, Huang J, Patel P, Sanchez LAlbertini, Kim WJ, Kwon J, Christos PJ, Finkel ML |
Journal | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
Volume | 19 |
Issue | 7 |
Date Published | 2022 Apr 01 |
ISSN | 1660-4601 |
Keywords | Cross-Sectional Studies, Diarrhea, Drinking Water, Humans, Infant, Rural Population, Sanitation, Tanzania, Waste Management |
Abstract | Diarrhea remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. Water, sanitation, and hygiene practices (WASH) have demonstrated improved diarrhea-related outcomes but may have limited implementation in certain communities. This study analyzes the adoption and effect of WASH-based practices on diarrhea in children under age five in the rural Busiya chiefdom in northwestern Tanzania. In a cross-sectional analysis spanning July-September 2019, 779 households representing 1338 under-five children were surveyed. Among households, 250 (32.1%) reported at least one child with diarrhea over a two-week interval. Diarrhea prevalence in under-five children was 25.6%. In per-household and per-child analyses, the strongest protective factors against childhood diarrhea included dedicated drinking water storage (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.18-0.36; p < 0.001), improved waste management (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.27-0.51; p < 0.001), and separation of drinking water (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24-0.59; p < 0.001). Improved water sources were associated with decreased risk of childhood diarrhea in per-household analysis (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52-0.99, p = 0.04), but not per-child analysis (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.65-1.05, p = 0.13). Diarrhea was widely treated (87.5%), mostly with antibiotics (44.0%) and oral rehydration solution (27.3%). Targeting water transportation, storage, and sanitation is key to reducing diarrhea in rural populations with limited water access. |
DOI | 10.3390/ijerph19074218 |
Alternate Journal | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
PubMed ID | 35409904 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8998175 |
Grant List | N/A / / Weill Cornell Medicine Health Equity Fund / |
Submitted by bel2021 on April 19, 2022 - 11:38am