An Investigation Of Risk Factors For Childhood Diarrhea And Traditional Medicinal Plants Used In Its Treatment In District Kohat

Childhood diarrhea remains an important public health concern, particularly in communities where household water quality, sanitation, hygiene practices, and healthcare accessibility may influence disease occurrence and management. This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors associated with childhood diarrhea and document traditional medicinal plants used for its treatment in District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was adopted, with data from 120 children and their parents or primary caregivers summarized using frequencies and percentages. Of the children included, 31.7% reportedly experienced at least one episode of diarrhea during the two weeks preceding the survey. Borewell or hand-pump water was the most frequently reported drinking-water source (35.8%), while 15.9% of households lacked a proper toilet facility. Among children with reported diarrhea, suspected contaminated drinking water (42.1%), inadequate handwashing practices (36.8%), and poor household sanitation (34.2%) were the most frequently reported potential risk factors. Regarding healthcare-seeking practices, 44.7% of caregivers consulted a doctor or health facility, whereas 21.1% reported using traditional herbal remedies. Psidium guajava was the most frequently reported medicinal plant (26.3%), followed by Punica granatum (18.4%) and Mentha spicata (15.8%). Older family members were the leading source of traditional medicinal knowledge (36.8%). The findings highlight the importance of safe drinking water, improved sanitation, hand hygiene, caregiver education, and appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviour. Further research is needed to verify medicinal plant identification, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness in children.