Factors associated with diarrhea prevention among mothers of under-five children in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria

Introduction: Despite readily available preventive interventions, diarrhea prevalence has remained relatively stable over the decades as the interventions are not effectively implemented on many children leading to high morbidity and mortality especially among under five children. This study investigated the factors associated diarrhea prevention among mothers of under-five Children in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a community based descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 314 caregivers of under-five children selected through systematic random sampling method and data were obtained using semi-structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25 and significance set at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of mothers for this study was 30.7 ± 5.31, with majority of the respondents being 26-30 years (43.3%), married (85.7%), and had tertiary education (64.6%). The prevalence of diarrhea in the last one year among under-five children in the study population was 53.2%. Only 34.4% of respondent had a good knowledge of diarrhea prevention, with 22.9% having poor practices of diarrhea prevention. Factors associated with knowledge of diarrhea prevention were mothers’ educational level, number of children under-five years, husbands’ occupation and average income of the mothers. (p<0.05) Knowledge of diarrhoea prevention, age of respondents, religion, place of ANC and delivery were statistically associated with practice of diarrhea prevention. (p<0.05). These findings have implication for policy makers and stakeholders to improve the knowledge of diarrhea prevention and treatment among mothers of under-fives through health education, awareness campaigns and use of community champions.