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Prevalence and correlates of diarrhea

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics volume 70, pages 207–211 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of acute drarrhea arid its correlates in remote rural villages of south Pakistan.Methrods: The authors selected 1878 children less than 3 years of age through stratified random sampling from 64 villages having the number of children enrolled proportionate to the size of each village, in rural Sindh, Pakistan. Trained field workers completed child physical measurements and maternal interviews.Results: Among the children examined, 961(51%) had diarrhea in the preceding 14 days prior to the date of survey. The prevalence of diarrhea was marginally higher among girls than boys (53% versus 49%, odds ratio 1.18, 95% Cl 0.98, 1.41). The factors related with higher prevalence of diarrhea were tack of education of mother, lack of exclusive breast feeding, breast feeding for less than one year, roundworm infestation, low weight-for height, night blindness, female sex and number of older siblings more than 2 in the family.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the acute diarrhea is major problem among children in rural Pakistan. Appropriate intervention programmes should be formulated focused on identified risk factors.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

    Syed M. Shah

  2. Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention, LNI, Olympia, WA, USA

    Syed M. Shah

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, TX, USA

    Nurudin B. Lakhani

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

    Maqsood Yousafzai

  5. Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA

    Rashid A. Chotani

  6. Aga Khan Health Services, Northern Areas, Pakistan

    Gul Nowshad

Authors
  1. Syed M. Shah
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  2. Maqsood Yousafzai
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  3. Nurudin B. Lakhani
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  4. Rashid A. Chotani
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  5. Gul Nowshad
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Correspondence to Syed M. Shah.

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Shah, S.M., Yousafzai, M., Lakhani, N.B. et al. Prevalence and correlates of diarrhea. Indian J Pediatr 70, 207–211 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02725583

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Key words

  • Prevalence
  • Childhood diarrhea
  • Rural population
  • Breast feeding
  • Infestation