| Water, sanitation, and hygiene practices among mothers and its association with diarrheal infection of their under-5 children in Chattogram, Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional study |
| Paper ID : 1174-IGA |
| Authors |
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Md Minhazul Abedin Sujon1, Syed Billal Hossain *2, Nasima Akter Mukta1 1Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, Daffodil International University (DIU), Dhaka, Bangladesh 2University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC), Bangladesh |
| Abstract |
| Aim: This study aims to address the association between the practices of water, sanitation & hygiene among mothers and diarrheal infection among their Under-5 Children in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Method: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 182 mothers of children under five years of age living in Chattogram City, Bangladesh. The probability proportional sampling (PPS) technique was applied to interview the study participants. Result: The study found that 37.4% of participants had toilets with ideal sanitary facilities. Mothers' estimates of toilet cleanliness demonstrated a Pearson association with their child's diarrheal count in the previous 12 months (P<0.007), whereas variations in toilet usage (P<0.003), toilet cleaning frequency each week (P<0.002) and availability of sewage channel with toilet (P<0.01) evidence significant association with diarrheal infection frequency in the last 12 months. Washing hands after using the toilet (P<0.002), washing fruits/vegetables before eating or cooking (P<0.000), washing hands before and after food consumption (P<0.02) & types of soap uses to wash hands (P<0.02) were found significantly associated with diarrheal infection. 41.8 % participants were found, who use no filtration method to purify their drinking water, however, the study found no significant association between water consumption practices with diarrheal infection frequency among respondents’ children under five years of age. Conclusion: The study highlights the significant role mothers play in children's health, highlighting the impact of inadequate water purification, inconsistent toilet use, poor hand washing habits, and limited access to safe drinking water on diarrhea incidence. These findings can guide future public health efforts to reduce diarrhea morbidity and mortality. |
| Keywords |
| Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Diarrheal diseases, Children Under-5 |
| Status: Accepted |
