Maternal determinants of diarrhea in children under five in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Abstract

Diarrheal diseases are one of the leading causes of death among children younger than 5 years of age in the world in general and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Mothers are predominantly responsible for child care and housekeeping in this region. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of diarrhea and identify its maternal determinants in children under five in the city of Lubumbashi. A cross-sectional study conducted throughout March 2018 collected data from 299 mothers through a household survey. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data in face-to-face interviews. The prevalence of diarrhea in children under 5 in Lubumbashi was 35.8%. In the univariate analysis, the variables associated with diarrhea were single motherhood, soap-free handwashing after latrine use, and the presence of feces around the latrines. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of feces around latrines (OR adjusted = 2.12 [1.18-3.80]) was associated with diarrhea. Defective cleaning by mothers, specifically their failure to keep latrine areas clean and free of feces, is associated with the risk of diarrhea in children under five in the study area. A hygiene intervention program must be designed to promote healthy behavior to alleviate the burden of diarrhea in children.