H. Brussow et al., NUTRITIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK-FACTORS FOR DIARRHEAL DISEASES IN ECUADORIAN CHILDREN, Journal of diarrhoeal diseases research, 11(3), 1993, pp. 137-142
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.