A diarrhoea morbidity survey was conducted in children between the ages of six and 59 months in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia. Nearly 37% of the 820 children surveyed had one or more episodes of diarrhoea over a period of one month preceding the study. Although several factors showed significant association with diarrhoea morbidity on bivariate analysis, child's age, immunisation status, father's ethnicity, family income and availability of latrine were the only significant variables on multivariate analysis. Based on the study results feasible intervention measures are recommended.
PIP: A morbidity survey conducted among 820 children 6-59 months of age from Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia, during the 1995 rainy season revealed that 299 (36.5%) had experienced at least 1 diarrhea episode in the month preceding the study. A total of 554 diarrhea episodes were recorded. Children aged 24 months and younger were more likely to have had diarrhea than their older counterparts (odds ratio (OR), 3.22; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.36-4.40). Other factors significantly associated with diarrhea in the multivariate analysis were immunization (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.90), Oromo paternal ethnicity (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04-2.02), family income of Birr 150 or less (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.10-2.19), and the availability of a private latrine (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.40-0.81). Infant feeding patterns and child nutrition status were not associated with diarrhea after possible confounding factors were controlled. These findings indicate a need for child health interventions aimed at educating mothers about the importance of measures such as immunization and safe waste disposal.