HYGIENE AND SANITATION RISK FACTORS OF DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD ADMITTED TO DR. JAMAL AHMAD RASHID PEDIATRIC TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SULAIMANI CITY

Background: Acute diarrhea in children under the age of five is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is important to identify factors associated with diarrhea in order to develop appropriate preventative and therapeutic approaches Aim: To assess hygiene and sanitation risk factors of diarrheal disease in children under five years old admitted to Dr. Jamal Ahmad Rashid Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Sulaimani City. Methods: A quantitative design (descriptive study) case control approach was used, data collected from the period 3rd of March to 3rd of June 2021 at Dr. Jamal Ahmed Rashid Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Sulaimani City, using a non probability purposive sample technique to select (105) children diagnosed with acute diarrhea as case group, and (105) non diarrheal children as a control group in outpatients unit in same hospital. Researcher collected the data by direct interview with mothers, data were analyzed by using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21. Results: Out of 105 diarrheal groups 42.9 % of mothers their age between 25-34 years old, 39% were graduated from primary school, 86.7% were unemployed, 55.3% were insufficient, 62.9% were in urban area, and 74.3% of their families consist of less than five members. 49.5% of children their age were 12 months or younger, 53.3% were male, 34.3% were second birth order, 69.5% were normal birth weight, and 89.5% were complete vaccination. Significant association were found between mother age, level of education, child age, gender, methods of cleaning child after defecating, mother washing hands after toilet, after cleaning child perineum, before feeding child, methods of storing food for later use with diarrhea. Conclusions: Young and low educated mother, low family income, infant age, male gender, poor hygiene practice, were the main risk factors of diarrhea. To minimize the rate of childhood diarrhea, there is a need to improve awareness of mothers regarding sanitation and personal hygiene and rotavirus vaccination.