Household Preventive Practices and Diarrhoea Prevalence in Urban Slums, Southwestern Nigeria

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