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THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DIARRHOEA AMONG CHILDREN

ABSTRACT

This research work was designed to examine and analyze the causes and effect of diarrhea infection among children in Benin City. Ten (10) research questions were formulated and questionnaires were administered to one hundred and fifty (150) respondents in order to gather data for the research. Results showed that poor environmental sanitation leads to diarrhea infection among children in Benin City, washing of children’s hands before eating help to prevent diarrhea infection among children , drinking contaminated water by children leads to diarrhea infection and lastly, poorly kept toilet causes diarrhea etc. recommendations included that; government should swing into action by providing various measures in other to prevent diarrhea infection in Benin City and Nigeria at large, our water should be treated properly with chlorine before drinking and batting with it.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Diarrhea is recognized as a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries (Banda et al., 2007; Gorter et al., 1998; Kosek, Bern, & Guerrant, 2003). It is the second leading cause of death among children under five years of age worldwide (BBS, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund, 2007; Larson, Saha, Islam, & Roy, 2006). Global deaths from diarrhea among children aged less than five years were estimated at 1.87 million in 2004 (Boschi-Pinto, Velebit, & Shibuya, 2008; Candy, 1987; Chiller et al., 2006; Khan et al., 2004; Larson et al., 2006). Seventy percent of these deaths are concentrated in 15 developing countries. Nigeria is one of these 15 countries and diarrhea is responsible for sixty-nine thousands diarrheal deaths (Boschi-Pinto et al., 2008). Diarrheal disease is still a major health problem in Nigeria. The government of Nigeria states that diarrhea kills an estimated 25,000 people annually, mostly children (IRIN, 2008). On a daily average, 180-200 diarrhea patients were admitted to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) hospital (IRIN, 2008). According to the ICDDRB hospital’s statistical surveillance from 2004 to 2008, the total number of children with diarrhea in this hospital was 5596. An average of 1119 diarrhea children (under five) was admitted there annually. Causes of diarrhea were viruses, bacteria and parasites (Mishra, Gupta, & Yadav, 2004). Contaminated foods play a major role in the occurrence of diarrheal diseases. The transmission of infection occurs by direct contact with the agent, through oral–fecal transmission routes due to poor water quality, unhygienic behaviors, improper storage of food and inadequate sanitation practices (Halvorson, 2004). This may be because mothers lack of awareness about safe drinking water, hygiene practice, feeding children with hygienic food and defecation practices (IRIN, 2008).

Diarrhea is a disease that can be prevented by avoiding contacting with causative agents, but children under 5 years of age are unable to protect themselves from these agents. They are under the care of their mothers; therefore the maternal preventive behaviors for children are very important. There are many studies showing the incidence of diarrhea related to maternal behaviors including hygiene practices, child feeding practices, safe water and defecation practices (Banda et al., 2007; Chiller et al., 2006; Gorter et al, 1998; Khan et al., 2004; Nanan et al., 2003; Osumanu, 2008). Mothers are the closest persons to children. Their behaviors toward their children need to be explored, especially their preventive behaviors. A previous study showed that maternal behaviors were found to be related to their perceptions (Pancharuniti, Shiyalap, Dung, & Wongsawass, 2004). The results of Pancharuniti et al study carried out in Vietnam indicated that maternal health beliefs towards diarrheal diseases in children played a crucial role in their home management of acute diarrhea. Maternal perceptions on the susceptibility and severity of diarrhea and the benefits and barriers to maternal home care for diarrheal children were significantly correlated to maternal practices. Although diarrheal disease is recognized as a major problem in Bangladesh, no studies on maternal preventive behaviors of diarrhea in children and maternal perceptions have been conducted. Therefore, this study is carried out in order to explore maternal perceptions and preventive behaviors of diarrhea in children. The results of the study will be used to enhance maternal preventive behaviors of diarrhea in children, which will reduce the incidence of diarrhea in children under five years of age. It can also fulfill the gap in knowledge of maternal preventive behaviors in diarrhea of children in Nigeria. 

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The problems to be considered in this work include;

What are the causes of diarrhea

. What are the effects of diarrhea

. How does diarrhea affect the nation?

1.3    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

. The purpose of this work includes the following;

. To examine the concept of diarrhea

. To examine the causes of diarrhea among children in Benin City.

. To examine the effect of diarrhea among children in Benin City.

. To proffer solutions to the causes and effect of diarrhea among children in Benin City.

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

The study is carried out in order to know the causes and effects of diarrhea among children in Benin City. This work includes the following;

. To stop the causes and effects of diarrhea among children in Benin City.

. To enumerate the causes and effects of diarrhea among children in Benin City.

. To provide suitable solutions of the causes and effects of diarrhea.

1.5    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

. Does effect of diarrhea lead to fever among children?

. Do poor sanitary conditions lead to diarrhea among children?

. Does eating of poorly prepared food lead to diarrhea in children?

. Does lack of health education lead to spread of diarrhea?

. Does overcrowding lead to spread of diarrhea in children?

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is set out to determine the causes and effect of diarrhea among children in Benin City. Therefore, the study is restricted to residents of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

Asymptomatic: Asymptomatic is a person who carry a diseases that are usually capable of transmitting the diseases it means there are no symptoms.

Cholera: This is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium vibrio cholera. The main symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces (waste product) of an infected person, including one with no apparent symptoms.    

Contamination: Contamination is the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent (contaminant) in a material, in a physical body in the natural environment, at a workplace etc.

Hygienic: Hygienic recommended for different situation, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between different cultures, genders and etarian groups. Some regular hygienic practices may be considered good habits by a society through neglect of hygiene can be considered disgusting, disrespectful or even threatening.

MICROORGANISM: An organism that is microscopic or submicroscopic or submicroscopic which means it is too small to be seen by the unaided human eye.  Microorganisms are very tiny one called organisms, viruses, fungi, and bacteria, and are found everywhere in the world. They are found in all living things, plants and animal.