Household Preventive Practices and Diarrhoea Prevalence in Urban Slums, Southwestern Nigeria
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Date
2017-12
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Ghana Social Science Journal
Abstract
Diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality
worldwide. Prevention of diarrhoea is hinged on access to safe water and
sanitation, two basic facilities that are lacking among slum dwellers.
Climate change exacerbates diarrhoea disease through changes in
temperature and rainfall. This descriptive and exploratory study was
carried out in two urban slums in South-western Nigeria. A combination
of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection was employed
among 508 household heads. Descriptive, inferential and content
analyses were carried out on data gathered. Mean age of the respondents
was 36.9, with more females (50.8%) than males (49.2%). More than
half (54.5%) of the respondents had no formal education, 37.8% were
traders and 59.4% earned a monthly income of 32–64 USD. The study
recorded a high level of knowledge for diarrhoea, its symptoms, causes
and indigenous methods for diarrhoea treatment. Water treatment and
source of drinking water in the household was significantly associated
with the experience of diarrhoea (P<0.05). Diarrhoea prevention level in
the household was significantly associated with diarrhoea experience and
the perception of diarrhoea was not associated with the experience of
diarrhoea. Educational level was the only predictor that influenced the
prevention of diarrhoea in urban slum households (P<0.05). Water
treatment practices and safe drinking water are key elements in preventing diarrhoea in the household. Proper awareness is therefore
needed especially in urban slums to bring this to light
Description
Ghana Social Science Journal, 14(2)
Keywords
Climate change, Household production of health, Home management, Disease prevention, Diarrhoea, Urban Slums