The Burden of Diarrheal Diseases and Its Associated Factors among Under-Five Children in Welkite Town: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This study assessed the magnitude of diarrhea and associated risk factors among under-five children in Welkite town. Methods: We used a community-based cross-sectional study design. Data collection period was February to March 2021 and 426 parents/guardians of under-five children were the study participants. A structured questionnaire and observation checklist were used to collect the data. Results: The 2 weeks prevalence of diarrhea among under-five years old children was 20.7% (88/426); 95% CI (17.1, 24.6). The child’s mother/caregiver being merchant (AOR: 5.34; 95% CI: 2.1, 13.8) compared to housewife, partial immunization status (AOR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.8), disposing child’s stool into the garbage (AOR: 5.05; 95% CI: 1.1, 23.3) compared to putting in a toilet, not covering water storage materials (AOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.7) and presence of flies in food preparation area (AOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.05, 4.8) were associated with increased odds of having diarrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of diarrhea among under-five old children is high and it is associated with the occupation of the mothers/caregivers, the immunization status of children, unhygienic water storage condition and non-hygienic household practice.