Prevalence and Associated Factors of Acute Diarrheal Diseases among Children aged 1–5 years Residing in the Amritsar District
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Worldwide, diarrheal diseases claim approximately 1.3 million lives annually among children under 5, making them the second leading cause of childhood mortality globally. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), diarrhea affects 7.3% of children under 5 years of age in India, while in Punjab, this figure stands at 4.9%. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of the Amritsar district from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 among children aged 1-5 years. A total of 430 study participants, aged between 1 and 5 years, were included in the sample, with equal urban-rural representation (215 each). The sample was selected from the most populous village and urban slum. Results: The prevalence of acute diarrheal disease (ADD) over the past 3 months was found to be 23%. ADD was associated with the age of the study participants, the education level of the mother, fast food consumption, immunization status, and water storage practices. Conclusions: Urban participants experienced a higher prevalence (35%) compared to rural participants (11%). The prevalence of ADD was approximately 3 times higher in the urban slum population in comparison to the rural population.
Authors: Lokesh Kumar Meena, Sanjeev Mahajan, Preeti Padda, Jasleen Kaur
Institution: Government Medical College, Amritsar
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $80
OpenAlex ID: W4410875727