Sociodemographic and feeding practices risk factors for diarrhea in children under five years in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia

Journal Article

,  Abdelrhman B., Saeed A., Fetoohi E., Alhamdan A., Al-Othman A., Bani I. . 2008

• نوع عمل المنشور: Article
• المجلة \ الصحيفة: Alexandria Journal of Paediatrics
• رقم العدد: 1
• رقم الإصدار السنوي: 22
• الصفحات: 31-36

مستخلص المنشور

The study was carried out to examine and analyze the sociodemographic and feeding practices
predisposing and possible risk factors for diarrhea In children under the age oHive years in Riyadh City.
A case control study design was used. The study was carried out from July 2005 to June 2006. The study
setting is the Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Riyadh city. Mothers of children were interviewed
for diarrheal episodes in their children who are under the age of five during the preceding two weeks and
their feeding habits. The mothers were Saudi nationals registered in the selected PHCCs. Mothers were
selected by systemic sampling and the PHCCs were selected by stratified random sampling. The stu~y
was conducted on two groups of mothers, 118 mothers whose children contracted diarrhea during the
preceding two weeks and 470 mothers who did not report diarrheal episodes in the preceding 2 weeks.
Diarrhea was more common in children under the age of two whose mothers were young, married at
younger age, had a low level of education level and/or are housewives. Diarrhea was more common in
those breast fed for shorter periods, weaned suddenly and those with late. weaning. The risk of diarrhea,
measured by odds ratio, is. significantly higher in children under the age of one, breast fed for less th,n
six months, weaned at age more than 6 months,. whose mothers have low; education level, married at
younger age and/or are housewives. Diarrhea is common in children under the age of five years In Riyadh
city and intervention strategies to control diarrhea should target the children who are significantly more

 
at risk of developing diarrhea.