Relationship of the presence of a household improved latrine with diarrhea and under-five child mortality in Indonesia

Abstract

We characterized the relationship of the presence of an improved latrine with diarrhea and under-five child mortality in Indonesia. The proportion of rural and urban families, respectively, without an improved latrine was 52.1% and 16.2%, with a child with a history of diarrhea in the last 7 days was 8.2% and 9.7%, and with a history of under-five child mortality was 11.1% and 8.5%. Among rural and urban families, respectively, lack of an improved latrine was associated with a child history of diarrhea in the last 7 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-1.29, P < 0.0001; OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.13-1.27, P < 0.0001) and under-five child mortality (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.25-1.31, P < 0.0001; OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.12-1.32, P < 0.0001) in separate multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for covariates. The lack of a household improved latrine is associated with diarrhea and under-five child mortality in Indonesia. Copyright © 2011 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.