Sanitation Facilities, Diaper Disposal, And Prevalence of Diarrhoea Among Children Under Five Years in Gulu District, Uganda

Yoweri Idiba; Norman David Nsereko; Alex Barakagira; Mshilla Maghanga

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.47537

Sanitation Facilities, Diaper Disposal, And Prevalence of Diarrhoea Among Children Under Five Years in Gulu District, Uganda

Author(s)	Dr. Yoweri Idiba, Prof. Dr. Norman David Nsereko, Dr. Alex Barakagira, Dr. Mshilla Maghanga
Country	Uganda
Abstract	Abstract: The disruption of the faecal-oral transmission pathway, a primary contributor to childhood illness, depends on pervasive and entrenched sanitation practices. Diarrhoea remains a significant public health concern among children in Uganda. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between sanitation facilities, diaper disposal methods, and the prevalence of diarrhoea in children under five years in Gulu district, Uganda. A convergent parallel cross-sectional design was employed, prioritising quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. A structured questionnaire was administered to 317 household caregivers with children under five years, while interview guides facilitated four Focus Group Discussions with community members and 10 key informant interviews with health practitioners. Data analysed using SPSS, Jamovi, and QDA Miner Lite software to provide descriptive statistics, factor analysis, structural equation modelling, logistic regression, and thematic analysis. The study found a 62.7% prevalence of diarrhoea among children under five. As 24.9% of households practised open defecation, 23% had improved latrines, and only 20.5% had access to handwashing facilities. 62.5% of household caregivers used cloth diapers, and 36% disposed of diapers in pit latrines. Regression analysis indicated that access to sanitation made children 3 times less likely to have diarrhoea (56% with access vs. 82% without). Inadequate diaper disposal and poor hygiene worsened the risk of diarrhoea. The study revealed significant relationships between the predictor and the outcome of diarrhoea. Households without improved sanitation facilities and those practising open diaper disposal were more likely to have children with diarrhoea. Implementing guidelines on child sanitation can help raise awareness in both rural and urban settings.
Keywords	Sanitation facilities, diaper disposal, child health, diarrhoea, Gulu district, Uganda. Clinical Trial Not Applicable
Field	Sociology > Health
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On	2025-06-09
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.47537
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9pz6k

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Sanitation Facilities, Diaper Disposal, And Prevalence of Diarrhoea Among Children Under Five Years in Gulu District, Uganda

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