Drinking water quality, feeding practices, and diarrhea among children under 2 years of HIV-positive mothers in peri-urban Zambia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Aug;85(2):318-26. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0140.

Abstract

In low-income settings, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive mothers must choose between breastfeeding their infants and risking transmission of HIV or replacement feeding their infants and risking diarrheal disease from contaminated water. We conducted a cross-sectional study of children < 2 years of age of 254 HIV-positive mothers in peri-urban Zambia to assess their exposure to waterborne fecal contamination. Fecal indicators were found in 70% of household drinking water samples. In a multivariable analysis, factors associated with diarrhea prevalence in children < 2 years were mother having diarrhea (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65-16.28), child given water in the past 2 days (aOR = 4.08, 95% CI = 1.07-15.52), child never being breastfed (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.06-6.72), and rainy (versus dry) season (aOR = 4.60, 95% CI = 1.29-16.42). Children born to HIV-positive mothers were exposed to contaminated water through direct intake of drinking water, indicating the need for interventions to ensure microbiological water quality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / etiology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Water Microbiology / standards*
  • Water Supply / standards*
  • Young Adult
  • Zambia / epidemiology