Prevalence and determinants of diarrhea among under-five children in five Southeast Asian countries: Evidence from the demographic health survey

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the prevalence and the correlation between individual, environmental and household, health behavior, and source of information factors with diarrhea among under-five children in five Southeast Asian countries based on the National Health Survey.

Design and methods: Cross-sectional design conducted in five countries in Southeast Asia. Datasets from Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in five countries were analyzed.

Results: A total of 12,447 children under 5 years of age from five countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia 1807, Cambodia 2650, Myanmar 1717, the Philippines 3669, and Timor-Leste 2614) were included in this study. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the data. A total of 12,447 under-five children were included in the study. Overall, in five Southeast Asian countries, the prevalence of diarrhea is known from 8.39% in the Philippines to 18.21% in Indonesia. Several factors related to diarrhea are individual; environmental and household; health behavior such as stool disposal, breastfeeding mothers, and children's food history; and source of information factors.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that diarrhea is a serious public health problem in the Southeast Asian region that must be addressed using preventive and curative approaches.

Practice implication: The results indicate the need for cross-collaboration among nurses, medical doctor, and sanitarian is needed to tackle the childhood diarrhea and minimize the severity based on those determinants.

Keywords: Children; Demographic health survey; Diarrhea; Southeast Asia.