Common Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Associated Factors Among Under-5 Children in Rural Dembiya, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Zemichael Gizaw; Ayenew Addisu; Destaye Guadie

doi:10.1177/1178630220927361

Common Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Associated Factors Among Under-5 Children in Rural Dembiya, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Environ Health Insights. 2020 Jun 17:14:1178630220927361. doi: 10.1177/1178630220927361. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Zemichael Gizaw¹, Ayenew Addisu², Destaye Guadie³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
² Department of Parasitology, School of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, abdominal cramp, nausea, vomiting, gas in the GI tract, changes in bowel habits (e.g. diarrhea), or heartburn are common in the community. However, these symptoms may be misinterpreted and their impact and significance misunderstood, especially in the rural communities. This study was, therefore, conducted to assess common GI symptoms among children in rural Dembiya, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2017 among 225 randomly selected under-5 children. We primarily used mothers' report to assess GI symptoms. Health professionals also diagnosed for some symptoms. Direct stool examination technique was used to identify parasitic infections. Bacteriological analysis of drinking water was done to determine the quality of drinking water. Food safety, environmental sanitation, and hygiene condition of children were assessed using observation checklists. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with GI symptoms on the basis of adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and P < .05.

Results: The current study depicted that 139 of 225(61.8%) of the children had GI symptoms. Abdominal discomfort (137 of 139 [98.7%]), abdominal cramp (125 of 139 [89.9%]), and diarrhea (118 of 139 [84.9%]) were the highest GI symptoms reported. GI symptoms were significantly associated with childhood intestinal parasitic infections (OR = 13.69, 95% CI = 3.31-56.59), unclipped and unclean finger nails (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.02-5.10), inadequate living environment sanitation (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.08-5.18), unclean living houses (OR = 9.06, 95% CI = 2.60-31.54), and owning livestock (OR = 4.68, 95% CI = 1.82, 12.03).

Conclusion: The prevalence of GI symptoms among under-5 children in rural Dembiya, northwest Ethiopia, was found to be high. GI symptoms were significantly associated with childhood intestinal parasitic infections, hand hygiene condition of children, and sanitation condition of the living environment. Therefore, preventing intestinal parasitic infections, improving hand hygiene condition, and promoting environmental sanitation will have overriding contributions to prevent symptoms among children in rural Dembiya.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal symptoms; environmental sanitation; intestinal parasitic infection; rural Dembiya; under-5 children.