Diarrhoeal cases are concentrated in Lagos Island, Agege and Somolu areas. Risk factors include religion, paternal education, mother’s occupation, source of drinking water, floor material, child feeding from bottle or nipple.
For the attention of: Ministries of health and local and national levels and agencies controlling water resources in at risk low- and middle-income countries.
The problem: Cases of childhood diarrhoeal diseases are a problem in Lagos and there is some clustering of cases.
Diarrhoeal diseases were responsible for nine percent of under-five mortality in Lagos State in 2011. Diarrhoeal diseases prevalence among under-five children increased from 6.1% in 2008 to 7.5% in 2013.
More needs to be understood about the spatial pattern of diarrhoeal diseases morbidity and identification of socio-demographic, environmental, hygiene and behavioural factors associated with occurrence.
What we did and why:
This study examined the spatial pattern of diarrhoeal diseases morbidity, and identified the socio-demographic, environmental, hygiene and behavioural factors associated with diarrhoeal diseases morbidity in Lagos State.
Using spatial statistics, data on reported cases of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five aged children in 2017 was analysed to determine the spatial pattern of morbidity. Data from 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey was used to determine the risk factors.
Reported cases of childhood diarrhoeal diseases are spatially random with high concentration in Lagos Island, Agege and Somolu areas.
What our study adds: Determinants of diarrhoeal diseases morbidity were child’s age, mother’s age, religion, paternal education and occupation, mother’s occupation, source of drinking water, floor material, child feeding from bottle and nipple and mothers’ not wanting the last child.
Implications for city policy and practice: Governments need to strengthen the provision of safe and adequate water supply and waste disposal mechanisms at city and state level.
- Educational programmes that will emphasize treatment of drinking water, safe hygiene and sanitation practices should be implemented in households.
- Interventions that will promote mothers knowledge of causes, prevention and treatment of diarrhoeal diseases are necessary.
- Vaccination of children with rotavirus is required to protect against disease.
Links to other resources and support: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016-2017, Lagos State Survey Report
Full research article: Spatial pattern and determinants of diarrhoea morbidity among under-five-aged children in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: (@YingigbaJ),
Editor: Marcus Grant (@MarcusxGrant)
