Predictors of diarrhoea in young Bangladeshi children

Abstract

This study investigated diarrhoea episodes in 196 children aged 6-23 months in relation to their diarrhoea experience in the first 6 months of life, domestic hygiene, and number of other children aged < 5 years in the household. Diarrhoea episodes were recorded weekly, while observations on domestic hygiene behaviour patterns were made once in 1982 and 1983. Correlation and regression analyses suggest that diarrhoea experience in the first 6 months of life was positively associated with diarrhoea episodes in ages 6-23 months. The strength of association improved a little, but significantly by controlling for mothers' handwashing, but did not improve by controlling for disposal of faeces and use of tube-well water for domestic use. The number of other children aged < 5 years in the household was an independent predictor of diarrhoea episodes in the age group 6-23 months