Predictors of dehydration among children under five years of age with acute diarrhea at Mbagathi County Referral Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine predictors of dehydration among children under five years with acute diarrhea at Mbagathi County Hospital Nairobi, Kenya.
Design: This was a case-control study.
Setting: The study was done at Mbagathi County Hospital, Nairobi.
Participants: The study population were primary care givers (PCGs) and their under five years’ children having acute diarrhea.
Interventions: A semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was then analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done using logistic regression.
Main outcome measures: Factors that contribute to the development of dehydration among children under five years with acute diarrhea.
Results: The variables that were significant at univariate analysis included age of PCG crude odds ratio (cOR) 0.92 (0.89-0.97)), highest level of education (cOR 4.40 (1.48- 13.13) and occupation (cOR: 4.88 (2.02-11.77)), Age in children >6- 12 months (cOR 0.35 (0.14- 0.83), persons who take care of the child most of the time (cOR 5.47 (2.24- 15.51) and amount of food given during diarrhea (cOR 38.3 (14.72-131.48). The adjusted multivariable analysis showed that age of PCGs (aOR: 1.01 (0.93- 1.09) and initiating zinc supplement at home (aOR: 2.60 (1.16-5.8) were statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study showed that the PCGs immediate interventions when their children develop diarrhea can expose them to the risk of developing dehydration. Hence need for intervention measures to enhance PCGs awareness on appropriate management of diarrhea.