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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Prevalence of and factors associated with diarrhoeal diseases among children under five in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study 2016

Authors: Fazly Azry Abdul Aziz, Noor Ani Ahmad, Mohamad Aznuddin Abdul Razak, Maisarah Omar, Noraida Mohamad Kasim, Muslimah Yusof, Rajini Sooryanarayana, Rasidah Jamaludin, Chan Ying Ying

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Globally, diarrhoea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among children under than 5 years of age. There is a scarcity of published data on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) prevalence in Malaysia among children. This study aims to determine factors associated with diarrhoea in children aged less than 5 years in Malaysia.

Method

Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016 conducted by Ministry of Health was analysed. This nationwide survey involved 15,188 children below five years old. The survey was carried out using a two-stage stratified sampling design to ensure national representativeness. The Questionnaire from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MCIS) was adapted to suit local requirements. Analysis was done using SPSS Version 23. Descriptive followed by multiple logistic regression were done to identify relevant factors.

Result

The prevalence of diarrhoea among children under five in Malaysia was 4.4% (95% CI: 3.8,5.2). Analysis using logistic regression indicated that only ethnicity and usage of untreated water were significantly associated with diarrhoea among children after controlling for relevant factors. By ethnicity, children in the ‘Other Bumiputera’ group had 2.5 times the odds of having diarrhoea compared to children of Malay ethnicity. Children of Indian ethnicity were also at higher risk, at almost double the odds, as well as other ethnic groups (1.5 times). Children who used untreated water supply were two times more likely to develop diarrhoea.

Conclusion

There is a higher risk of diarrhoea among children of ‘Other Bumiputera’ ethnicity, Indian ethnicities, and other ethnic groups and those who consume untreated water. Strategies to reduce diarrhoea among children should be targeted towards these at-risk populations. In addition, the Government must strive to ensure universal access to treated clean water in Malaysia and the Ministry of Health must focus on raising awareness on how to prevent diarrhoea.
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence of and factors associated with diarrhoeal diseases among children under five in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study 2016
Authors
Fazly Azry Abdul Aziz
Noor Ani Ahmad
Mohamad Aznuddin Abdul Razak
Maisarah Omar
Noraida Mohamad Kasim
Muslimah Yusof
Rajini Sooryanarayana
Rasidah Jamaludin
Chan Ying Ying
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6266-z

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