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Background: The prevalence of underfive diarrhea in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia is one of the highest in the country. This study attempted to examine the multiple factors associated with underfive diarrhea and how they might influence its prevalence in Jigjiga, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to 28, 2015. Multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from 492 mothers via household survey. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data through face-to-face interview. Ethical clearance was obtained before data collection. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios. Results: The two weeks prevalence of under five diarrhea in Jigjiga town was 14.6%. Up on multivariable analysis, maternal educational level of primary school and above was found to be protective against childhood diarrhea [AOR: 0.227(0.100-0.517)] whereas, unavailability of water [AOR: 2.124(1.231-3.664)] and lack of hand washing facility [AOR: 1.846(1.013-3.362)] were associated with diarrhea. Conclusion: Poor water supply, lack of hand washing facilities and lack of formal maternal education were associated with underfive diarrhea in the study area. Improved access to water supply along with environmental health intervention programs designed to promote good hygiene behavior could be of paramount importance to alleviate burden of childhood diarrhea.
This study was a community based cross-sectional study conducted from February 15–28, 2015. Jigjiga is the capital town of Somali Regional State located in the eastern part of Ethiopia. The population of the town is estimated to be 159,300. The population is mainly of Somali extraction and most residents are Muslim. There is one referral and one zonal hospital, and two health centers in town. Sample size was computed based on single population proportion formula assuming 95% confidence interval, 5% margin of error, prevalence (P) of 19.5% (two weeks prevalence of diarrhea among children under age five in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia) [10], a design effect of 2 (since multistage cluster sampling was used) and a non-response rate of 10% which gave a final sample size of 530. A multistage sampling technique was used including Kebeles (administrative sub divisions of town) as first-stage units, and Ketenas (non-administrative sub divisions of kebeles) as second-stage units, and households as third-stage units. First, of the total 10 kebeles in the town, 5 kebeles were selected by lottery method. Then, ketenas were chosen from each of the 5 kebeles. The number of ketenas included was proportionally allocated to the size of the kebeles. Since the number of underfive children residing in the selected ketenas was not available, a census was conducted in all the selected ketenas to have a sampling frame. Based on this sampling frame obtained from the census, the final sample size of 530 was proportionally allocated among the ketenas. Systematic random sampling was used within each ketenas to select households for interview. In households with more than one under five index children or more than one mother or caregiver, lottery method was used to choose one. Two revisits to a household were made for respondents unavailable at the time of data collection. Inclusion criteria for the study participants were being an index underfive child, and a mother or care giver who is permanent resident of the town. The outcome variable was diarrhea and independent variables were composed of socio demographic variables, household and environmental, hygiene behavior and child feeding practices. A questionnaire adapted from World Health Organization (Core questions on drinking water and sanitation for household surveys) [14] composed of closed-ended questions was used in preparation of the instrument. The final questionnaire was translated to Somali language and back to English language to check for consistency. The questionnaire was pretested on 5% of the total sample size, i.e. 27 mothers of underfive children who resided in a Kebele outside the study area. Finally a pretested, structured questionnaire was used to conduct face-to-face interviews Additional file 1. Data collectors proficient in the local Somali language were trained by the researchers. On-field supervision of data collectors was carried out. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics was used to present results. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were also calculated in univariate and multivariable logistic regressions. In order to identify independent factors associated with the outcome, variables significantly associated on univariate analysis at a cut off point p value 0.3 were put in to multivariable model for further analysis. Backward stepwise regression was implemented to identify final adjusted odds ratios of independent factors associated with diarrhea at a cut-off point p-value 0.05. All caregivers underwent informed consent for participation in the study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Jigjiga University, Directorate of Research, Publication and Technology Transfer.
