Relationship Between Domestic Animals, Environmental and Behavioral Factors, and Under-Five Diarrhea in Sidama Region, Ethiopia: A Matched Case-Control Study
Matched case-control study identifies domestic animals and behavioral factors as key contributors to diarrhea in children, suggesting improved hygiene may help reduce cases.
Key Points
Households with five or more chickens showed a significantly increased occurrence of under-five diarrhea.
The absence of soap at handwashing facilities was associated with a 2.61-fold increase in diarrhea risk among children.
Cohabitation with animals greatly elevated the odds of diarrhea in children, indicating a need for improved animal feces management.
Traveling more than 30 minutes to fetch water was linked to increased risk of diarrhea, highlighting the importance of water accessibility.