Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Infectious Diarrhea in Egyptian Children

Abstract

Infectious diarrhea is a common health problem among Egyptian infants and young children. It leads to high indicate of morbidly and mortality. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of socioeconomic status of the children, affected with diarrhea, on their diseases. Two hundred and ninety children suffering from diarrhea attending the outpatient clinic of Cairo University Children Hospital (Abul-Reech) during the summer time from May to August 2013 were enrolled in the study. A designed questionnaire sheet including some social parameters e.g. parents' education, number of family members, feeding of the children were used. Nutritional status of patients enrolled were assessed by measuring their anthropometric measurements and compared to Growth Charts [1]. The results indicated that the majority of mothers were illiterate. Most of children enrolled were aged 7 – 24 months, so they were receiving weaning foods with breastfeeding. The results also revealed that most of children had 6-10 motions/day and their stool were watery or watery with mucous. The majority of children had BMI normal percentiles. The results showed that a negative correlation between mother's education and both number of family and diarrhea duration (p≤0.05). Also, there were a positive correlation between water sources and child's homeland (p≤0.01). A negative correlation was found between water sources and fever (p≤0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggested that mother's education, number of family members, sanitary water supply are crucial factories in affection of our children with infectious diarrhea diseases. Recommendation: The previous findings have important implications on policy for health intervention, and support the view that investing in female education may have substantial benefits on the child health. Also, reducing diarrhea dangers involves providing better water sources and sanitation for the entire population and hygiene of the person caring of the child.