PREVALENCE OF DIARRHEAL DISEASE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG EXCLUSIVE AND NON-EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEED CHILDRENS IN ANKOBER DISTRICT, NORTH SHOA ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA; 2023.

Abstract

Background: - The global public health problem of diarrhea is most prevalent in developing countries including Ethiopia, especially among children under two years of age, while it kills half-million under-five children each year. However, there is limited evidences diarrheal illness and effect of exclusive breastfeeding on reducing the risk of diarrhea Objective: - To assess prevalence of diarrheal disease and its associated factor among exclusive and non-exclusive breast fed children’s in Ankober district, North shoa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia 2023. Methods: - A community-based comparative cross-sectional study design was employed in Ankober District from May 15 to 30, 2023. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the study groups. Data was collected using face to face interview with pre-tested structured questionnaire. The collected data was entered using EpiData version 4.2 and then exported to using SPSS version 25.0 for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data and the result reported using frequencies, means, and percentages. Bivariable and Multivariable logestic regression were carried out to identify variables having significantly associated with diarrheal diseases. Result: - A total of 448 (mother with 206 from EBF and 206 from NEBF) participants were interviewed making the response rate 91.9%. The prevalence of diarrheal diseases among mothers with EBF and non EBF group was 11.2% and 24.8% respectively. The results of this study indicated that Educational status [AOR = 3.75, 95% CI (1.43, 9.89)], number of under 5 children [AOR = 4.88, 95% CI (1.75, 13.6)], latrine utilization [AOR = 8.09, 95%CI (1.41, were factors associated with diarrheal diseases. Conclusion: - The prevalence of diarrhea was slightly higher in mothers with non-EBF children than in EBF children. Under poor environmental conditions, mothers with primary education and above protected their children against diarrhea better than mothers with no education in both study groups. Thus, implementing effective educational programs that emphasize environmental health and sanitation practices and encouraging female school enrollment would reduce childhood diarrheal morbidity in the region. Key word: Diarrhea, Exclusive and non-exclusive breast feed