Socioeconomic factors associated with diarrheal diseases among under-five children of the nomadic population in northeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children worldwide. Every day, more than 4000 children lose their lives due to diarrhea. In Ethiopia, diarrhea is the second killer of under-five children next to pneumonia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of under-five diarrhea and socioeconomic factors among the nomadic people in Hadaleala District. A total of 704 under-five children were included in this study, and subjects were recruited by the multistage cluster sampling technique. Data were collected by a pre-tested questionnaire. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify socioeconomic variables associated with childhood diarrhea. RESULTS: The 2-week period prevalence of diarrhea among under-five children was 26.1% (95% CI 22.9, 29.3%). The highest prevalence (37.5%) of diarrhea occurred among children aged between 12.0 and 23.0 months. The occurrence of diarrheal disease was associated with the presence of two (AOR = 4.3, p < 0.001) and three (AOR = 22.4, p < 0.001) under-five children in each household. The age of the children ranged between 6.0 and 11.0 months (AOR = 4.8, p < 0.001), 12.0 and 23.0 months (AOR = 6.0, p < 0.001), and 24.0 and 35.0 months (AOR = 2.5, p < 0.05), illiterate mothers (AOR = 2.5, p < 0.05), and poor households (AOR = 1.6, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diarrhea prevalence was quite high among under-five children in Hadaleala District, and it was significantly concentrated among children aged between 12.0 and 23.0 months. The number of under-five children, age of children, mothers’ education, and household economic status were significantly associated with childhood diarrhea. To minimize the magnitude of childhood diarrhea, implementing various prevention strategies such as health education, child care, personal hygiene, and household sanitation which can be integrated with the existing national health extension program are essential.