Factors influencing diarrheal disease among under five years old borama town somali

ABSTRACT The study investigated the factors influencing diarrheal disease among under five years old children in Borama town. Diarrhea is the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than normal for the individual. Globally, about 6 million children die each year from diarrheal diseases, with most deaths occurring in the developing countries. Nearly 22% of all deaths among under-five years in sub-Saharan Africa and 23% in south Asia are caused by diarrheal diseases in the year 2000. In Somaliland, thediarrheal deaths reached 19% of the 58% of reported diagnosed cases of diarrhea about 49% of 2009 in Borama town. But despite this quantitative increase, the incidence of diarrhea in under five years old on latrine, garbage management, hand washing and water supply remained largely un assessed. Guided by the Theory of Health Belief Model, the studywas conducted through a cross-sectional survey research design,using a stratified and simple random sample. Data was collected from a stratified random sample 196 mothers in Borama town in February, 2016 and analyzed using chi-square goodness of fit method. The study found that the latrine [χ2 (9, N = 192) = 14.191, p = .116, C = .262], and water supply that [χ2 (9, N = 192) = 8.999, p = .437, C = .212] had no significant influence incidence diarrhea disease among under five years old children in Borama town. But garbage management [χ2 (9, N = 192) = 18.799, p = .027, C = .299], and hand washing that [χ2 (6, N = 192) = 10.640, p = .031, C = .139] had significant influence on incidence of diarrhea disease among under five years old children in Borama town. The study concluded that the major factor influencing Diarrhea in under-five years old children in Borama town was garbage management. The study recommended the Ministry of Health should create a team to design and supervise building of latrines and develop environmental sanitation policy to improve maintenance and sanitation of latrine. It should increase funds allocated for garbage management and develop proper systems of waste disposal and storage. Further, it should provide education to families and caretakers across country on hand washing so that all children can obtain the health benefits from proper hand washing. Lastly, the government should improve the quality and quantities of water supply. Finally, the study recommends that a study be conducted on the predisposing factors to vibrio cholera which is also very common diseases in Borama town, yet easily preventable in under five years old.