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Factors influencing the occurrence of diarrhea in children under five years in Chewoyet sub-location, Kapenguria municipality, West Pokot County, Kenya
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Ndwiga, Taratisio Mwenje, Fredrick Oduor Wanyonyi, Andrew N. Omwono, Masta Ondara |
| Copyright Year | 2017 |
| Abstract | Diarrhea was ranked the third prevalent disease in West Pokot County. It can lead to death and nutritional problems like stunted growth and underweight in children if not checked. The aim was to determine various factors contributing to the occurrence of diarrhea in children aged below five years in Chewoyet sub-location, Kapenguria municipality. Chewoyet sub-location, Kapenguria municipality, West Pokot subcounty was the study area where cross-sectional study design adopted. The Study populations were all children aged below 5 years, their mothers and caregivers. Data collection was done through Questionnaires and key informant interviews. SPSS version 18.0 was used to analyze the Data and presented by use of charts, graphs and tables. Majority (n=48, 61%) of the children were male with most (89%) of the mothers being 15-34 years. 61% of the children had suffered from diarrhea within the last six months, mostly in dry season. More male children (63%) had suffered from diarrhea averagely lasting 3-5 days and dependent on gender (p=0.017) with male children suffering more. Most mothers (92%) knew the causes of diarrhea and that it can be prevented but had poor hygiene practices. Majority (54%) did not treat water before drinking. Majority of the households had never received water treatment chemicals from the hospital. This was associated with occurrence of diarrhea in children (p=0.033). In conclusion, most mothers were aware of prevention of diarrhea but had poor hygiene practices. Little supply of water treatment products coupled with the growing population had resulted in reduced water quality hence higher risk of diarrhea. The study recommended monitoring exposure of children in their environments and seeking prompt medication. The Public health departments to conduct a comprehensive urban led total sanitation as well as ensure distribution of subsidized water treatment chemicals and adequate safe water supply. Fredrick Oduor Mwenje, * Taratisio Ndwiga, Andrew N Wanyonyi, Masta Omwono Department of Environmental Health, Moi University, Kenya Submission: 10 April 2017 Accepted: 15 April 2017 Published: 25 April 2017 www.ijsrm.humanjournals.com Citation: Taratisio Ndwiga et al. Ijsrm.Human, 2017; Vol. 6 (2): 161-185. 162 INTRODUCTION Diarrhea describes loose watery stools that occur more frequently than usual. It means more frequent trips to the toilet and a greater volume of stool. It is a condition of having three or more loose or liquid stools per day or having more stools than is normal for a person (WHO, 2008). Most diarrheal infections in children are caused by virus infections e.g. rotavirus which is responsible for more than 40% of all diarrhea-related hospital admissions of children. Many bacteria can cause diarrhea, especially in lowered immunity. The most common bacteria are Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio Cholerae. The most common parasites are Entamoeba Histolytica, hookworm and Giardia lamblia among others (Hung, 2006). West Pokot County is an ASAL area, forming part of the 67% of Kenya’s ASAL and located in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It borders Uganda to the west, Trans Nzoia and Marakwet counties to the south, Turkana County to the north and east respectively and Baringo county to the south east (ACF, 2012). It is relatively rugged with an altitude ranging from 900 m in the plains of Turkana in northeast to over 3000 m in Cherangani Hills in the south-eastern parts of the county. The county has a total area of 8,418.2 km 2 with an estimated population of 512,690; 50% male and 50% female. The population density stands at 61 people per km 2 . Children below five years from 11.3% of the total population (WSP, 2014). The county comprises of four main sub-counties namely West, Central, South and North Pokot with three major livelihood zones of pastoralism, agro-pastoral and mixed farming for North, Central, West and South Pokot sub-counties respectively (see map in appendix). Kapenguria is a town lying northeast of Kitale (in Trans Nzoia County), found in West Pokot sub-county and is the headquarters of West Pokot County at latitude 1 0 N and longitude of 35 0 E. It forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 people and a total population of 56,000 people. It is also home to the infamous Turkwel Hydro-electric power plant which serves the national grid with approximately 105 MW of power (KNBS, 2009). Kapenguria town has various locations that form peri-urban residences as well as villages. As a growing town, it attracts several urban dwellers who are majorly employed in the www.ijsrm.humanjournals.com Citation: Taratisio Ndwiga et al. Ijsrm.Human, 2017; Vol. 6 (2): 161-185. 163 construction industry in the town. It is where all the administrative offices of the county are situated. It is also a location with three sub-locations namely; Mwotot, Chewoyet and Kamatira. The area is inhabited mainly by the Pokot speaking group (KNBS, 2009) and the study was carried in Chewoyet sub-location. PROBLEM STATEMENT Children under five years require adequate care to be free from diseases, especially diarrhea (Hung, 2006). However, diarrhea has remained one of the most prevalent diseases in children under five (PATH, 2007). Diarrhea is the third leading cause of death among under-fives in Kenya, and it kills dozens of children before their fifth birthday. The most severe form of diarrhea is caused by rotavirus which is responsible for 7500 deaths yearly in Kenya (IRIN-Kenya, 2014). Still, at worse, diarrhea has been ranked the third prevalent disease in West Pokot County as per the data from the disease surveillance department in the county with under five mortality rate of 206 per 1000. Rapid increase in diarrhea has been recorded in the entire county in the last four years. In West Pokot sub county, this has been the trend, with the year 2014 recording the highest number of cases: There has been a 130% increase in the cases of diarrhea within the four years since 2011 which is alarming with the year 2014 recording a 77% increase in the cases, up from the previous year. In the year 2012 alone, there was an increase in the cases of diarrhea in children aged below five years from 22.3% in 2011 to 51.3% in 2012 and this has been on an upward trend (ACF, 2012). Diarrhea leads to nutritional problems like stunted growth and underweight in children (Kopano M et al, 2010). In a study on childhood diarrhea, it was found out that children ill with diarrhea 10% of the time during the first 24 months were 1.5 cm shorter than children who never had diarrhea (Hung, 2006). Stunted children suffer a higher mortality due to infectious diseases such as pneumonia and measles as well as being more likely to have poorer cognitive and educational outcomes (WSP, 2014). Over the years, the infant mortality rates have been shown to be related to poor access to safe water for drinking and sanitation (Porto, 2004). Efforts to provide safe water for drinking and appropriate sanitation have been put in place yet there is still an increase in infant mortality. www.ijsrm.humanjournals.com Citation: Taratisio Ndwiga et al. Ijsrm.Human, 2017; Vol. 6 (2): 161-185. 164 Perhaps the approach used to provide the water especially for the children may not be appropriate which this study seeks to establish. This can range from the mode of transport, storage, amount used per capita per day and may be treatment before drinking (Pruss, 2008). The rate at which diarrhea is increasing in the county endangers the attainment of MDG number four (to reduce by two thirds the mortality rate of children under five) since diarrhea is one of the major causes of child mortality. A lot of resources are usually allocated for treatment and management of diarrhea in children. If diarrhea is not quickly averted, it can quickly spread and affect many children. This can have a detrimental effect on the general image of the county and the nation Kenya as a whole, as well as on the economic sector of the county and country. As a result of these looming perils, a precise and rapid action is required to contain the dominating trend and realize Kenya’s vision 2030 in the long run. This study, therefore, sought to establish the main causes of diarrhea in children in households of Kapenguria municipality and generate solutions to help policymakers institute appropriate and sustainable methods of preventing this menace in children aged below five years. |
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| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
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