Risk factors of diarrhea in children under 5 years in Al-Mukalla, Yemen

OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk factors associated with diarrhea among children below 5-years-old in Mukalla, Yemen, and compare with other studies. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study on 200 children (100 cases and 100 controls) who attended the Maternity and Child Hospital, outpatient-clinics, and the Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Mukalla, Hadhramout, Yemen between February and April 2013. RESULTS: We found that the significant risk factors associated with diarrhea were crowded housing (odds ratio [OR] 2.02; p=0.02; confidence interval [CI] 1.03-4.01), incomplete vaccination of the child (OR=2.02; p=0.027; CI: 1.08-3.8), and recurrent diarrheal illness during the last 3 months (OR=6.61; p=0.001; CI: 3.41-12.90). CONCLUSION: Diarrheal diseases are strongly associated with incomplete vaccination, recurrent diarrheal disease, and crowded housing.