NUTRITIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK-FACTORS FOR DIARRHEAL DISEASES IN ECUADORIAN CHILDREN

Risk factors associated with diarrhoea based on the recall of a recent episode were evaluated from a cross-sectional national nutrition and health study in 1,620 Ecuadorian children less than 5 years old. Preva lence of diarrhoea varied with the age of the children, 6-to 23-months -old children showed the highest prevalence. In this age range the pre valence of diarrhoea was significantly associated with hygienic factor s (quality of drinking water, sanitation and refuse system), but not w ith demographic factors (sex, altitude, population density, family siz e). The nutritional status of the children was determined by anthropom etry and blood chemistry. After stratification for sanitation levels, a low weight-for-age Z-score and low serum retinol and zinc concentrat ions showed a statistically significant (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.06) association with diarrhoea prevalence, only in children living under better hygienic conditions. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between both sanitation levels and nutritional level as defined by anthropometry, but not by blood chemistry, and diarrhoea pr evalence.