A community based study was conducted to assess the magnitude of the problem of diarrhoea and factors associated with it amongst children below three years of age. Two districts in Haryana state were selected by using multistage random sampling procedure. Eight hundred eighteen children in the age group of 0-35 months belonging to scheduled caste communities were studied. All children suffering from diarrhoea at the time of survey or within last 2 weeks were included for the detailed study. The occurrence of diarrhoea was highest in age group 6-11 months (28%) and was lowest in age group 0-5 months (16%). No relationship was found between the nutritional status of children and the occurrence of diarrhoea. The percentage prevalence of diarrhoea was 42, 32 and 36 per cent amongst normally, moderately and severely malnourished children, respectively. Thirty seven percent of children suffering from diarrhoea received bottle feed.
PIP: In 44 rural villages in Faridabad and Hisar districts of Harynana state, India, interviews with mothers of 818 children were conducted to determine the extent of diarrhea among scheduled caste communities. 172 children either had diarrhea at the time of or 2 weeks before the interview. Diarrhea incidence was greatest among the 6-11 month olds, the time when weaning begins and children are given foods and fluids other than breast milk. Incidence was lowest among 0-5 month olds, when many infants are exclusively breast fed. No correlation between nutritional status and diarrhea existed. Children with normal nutritional status were somewhat more likely to have or recently have had diarrhea than moderately and severely malnourished children (42.4% vs. 35.7% and 31.9%, respectively). Weaning practices with the highest proportion of children with an episode of diarrhea were commercial weaning foods (40%) and bottle feeding (36.8%).