A STUDY ON DIARRHEAL PREVALENCE AMONG THE BODOCHILDREN OF 6 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OF AGE AND THEIR WASH PRACTICES AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL IN RURAL KOKRAJHAR DISTRICT
Vonita Das, Shivendra Choudhary*, Sachin Sinha, Alakananda Bagchi and Vishal Vuthoo
ABSTRACT
Background: Water related diseases are taking a terrible toll in human health status in past few years. The most significant of these diseases among children under 5 years are the diarrheal diseases. Safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene are the key components for the prevention of diarrheal incidences which are not only feasible and practicable, but also cost effective. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of diarrhea among the Bodo children between 6 months to 5 years of age in rural Kokrajhar District of Assam and to assess the practices regarding water, sanitation and hygiene among that population. Materials and Methods: A total of 220 rural households were included in the study. A descriptive cross sectional approach was adopted, including collection of information from the mothers through a pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. Based on the objective, data analysis is done by simple statistical tools using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Prevalence of diarrhoea in that region with sample size of 220 is calculated as 3.6 percent. 58.2 percent of the population is using tube-well as a source of drinking water. 24.5 percent are engaged in open defecation and 41.8 percent are using flush toilet. 92.7 percentof the population are following good hygiene practices. Conclusion: Significant association between diarrhoea among children under 5 years of age and source of drinking water, safe storage of waterand hand-washing practices.
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