Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Diarrhea in Children Under the age of 5 years at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda

Abstract

Three or more loose stools per day, or more frequent passages than is typical for an individual, are considered diarrhea. In addition to rapidly resulting in dehydration, diarrhea can negatively affect a child's growth and cognitive development. Since children have a larger surface area and lose fluids more quickly, diarrhea can lead to dehydration and mortality as well as long-term consequences like malnutrition. Even though the majority of diarrhea episodes in children are minor, acute occurrences can cause significant fluid loss and dehydration. If fluids are not replaced as soon as diarrhea appears, this might lead to death or other serious effects. Fortunately, diarrhea is curable and preventative. In this study, the causes of diarrheal illnesses in children under five who are patients at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital were evaluated. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. It employed both quantitative and qualitative research techniques for gatheringand analyzing data. Youngsters under the age of five who experienced diarrhea within the six months before to the study were examined. There were 241 in the sample. Children under five who visit Hoima Regional Referral Hospital have a moderately high prevalence of diarrhea. The age range of 1-3 years old, having an open spring or well as a water source, and discarding household waste within the compound have all been linked to an increase in the occurrence of diarrhea. While caregivers could accurately advice regarding preventive measures, their understanding of the proper treatment of severe diarrhea was lacking, particularly with regard to dehydration. Therefore, in order to reduce the high rate of diarrhea in children under five, the government should make it very easy for people to access safe water. Health education programs focusing on these aspects should also be strengthened in order to train caregivers in home management, which will effectively and sustainably contribute to a reduction in child mortality. Keywords: Dehydration, Diarrhea, Health education, Child mortality, Children