Identifying the Causes and Prevention of Diarrhea in Abraka, A Local Community in Delta State, Nigeria

E. B. Anyanwu⁴*, C. O. Esume¹, B. Okperi², I. Onyesom³, T. O. Mabiaku⁴ and Y. O. Mabiaku³

¹Department of Family Medicine. Faculty of Clinical Medicine. Delta State University Abraka.

²Department of Pharmacology and Theraupeutics. Faculty of Basic Medical Science. Delta State University Abraka.

³Department of Paediatrics. Faculty of Clinical Medicine. Delta State University Abraka.

⁴Department of surgery. Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Delta State University Abraka.

Corresponding Author E-amil: ebirian@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: Diarrhea is a relatively common ailment in children. The causes are of various aetiology. The common causes are usually bacteria or viruses, with the occasional community-based belief and myths. Some common causes include rotavirus, Escherichia coli, shigella and salmonella. Our data show that childhood diarrhea are due to drinking bad water (38.46%), or from dangerous germs in food and drinks (32.69%), and from using dirty feeding utensils (25.00%). A group of respondents believe that the cause maybe due to angry spirits of the ancestors (3.85%). All the respondents agree that diarrhea cannot be transmitted by looking at a child suffering from diarrhea, and 73.68% of the respondents say that the sick child will need help only when he is noticeably weaker than usual. Only 15% of the respondents describe diarrhea as watery stool. And 74% say that they usually give antibiotics to their wards as preventive measure. Our findings suggest that most of our mothers are aware of the common causes of diarrhea diseases.

KEYWORDS: Diarrhea; causes; prevention; Delta state; Nigeria

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