Prevalence Of Diarhoea Among Children Aged 12-60 Months In Fort – Portal Referral Hospital

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study was carried out between August-September 2013 in Fort Portal

referral hospital. The study aimed at establishing diarrhoea prevalence among children

aged 1-5 years in Fort Portal Referral hospital

The research population was mothers of child bearing age 15-49 years with at

least one or more children under five years.

The study reveal that fifty two children 52/148 (35.1%) were found to have had

diarrhea during the interviewing time. This is quite a reasonable percentage that

requires attention as it is well known that diarrhea can result into malnutrition , and

other complications like dehydration which easily lead to death.

The report shows 44(44%) of mothers attributed “False teeth” as being the cause of

diarrhoea. 32(32%) didn’t know the cause of diarrhea. This shows almost three

quarters of the interviewed mothers seem not to know the real cause of diarrhoea. This

may be attributed to the law level of education.

As far as treatment of water is concerned, 50(50%) don’t treat their water, 46(46%) boil

water. Most of the respondents 52(52%) say that diarrhea can’t be prevented and

16(16%) didn’t know whether diarrhoea is preventable or not.

The study reveals that methods of prevention of diarrhoea are: hand washing before

meals 16(36.4%), proper refusal disposal 08(18.1%) and Hand washing after using toilet 04(9.1%).