Risk Factors For Persistent Diarrhea And Malnutrition Among Children Under 5 Years Old In Assiut

Abstract

This study included hundred children under 5 years old with persistent diarrhoea ( >14 days) associated with malnutrition. Another group involving hundred heathy children of matchable age and sex was considered as a control group for comparison. Data collection of the study group was taken from mothers of infants and children coming to rehydration unit while that of the control group was taken from mothers of infants and children coming to Well- Baby Clinic, Assiut University Hospital. Home visits were conducted twice with 2 week intervals for mothers of

• both the study and the control groups to observe mothers and children behaviours related to feeding, hygiene and defecation and to assess home environment and its surr0tmdings. Previously designed questionaire sheet was prepared for this study in which the following were recorded, identification data, data related to diarrhea, malnutrition, and treatment; socio-anthropological characteristics in children of both the study and the control groups; behaviour related to feeding of the child; hand washing behaviour related to feeding the child of both study ru.1d control groups; type of food related to age of both the study and the control groups; personal hygiene and defecation of both the study and the control groups. The study was conducted in the period from July 1998 to June 1999. The results of this study indicated that, family size of the study group was significantly larger while the education level of tl1e mothers of the study

group was significantly lower in comparison to the control group.