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Association of Safe Disposal of Child Feces and Reported Diarrhea in Indonesia: Need for Stronger Focus on a Neglected Risk
Authors: Aidan A. Cronin, Susy Katikana Sebayang, Harriet Torlesse, and Robin Nandy
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(3), 310; doi:10.3390/ijerph13030310
Topic(s): Child health
Diarrhea
Hygiene
Sanitation
Water treatment
Country: Asia
  Indonesia
Published: MAR 2016
Abstract: Indonesia still faces several challenges in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Diarrhea remains a major killer of children and it is important to understand the local diarrhea transmission pathways to prioritise appropriate WASH interventions to reduce diarrhea burden. This study used a cross-sectional data set from a recent national household survey (the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey) to examine the associations between diarrhea in children aged less than 24 months with WASH interventions and population characteristics. Unsafe disposal of child feces was strongly associated with an increased odds of child diarrhea (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.18–1.82, p = 0.001). However, other WASH practices were not found to be associated. The findings underline the dangers of unsafe disposal of child feces and highlight the need for strengthening the related policies and program strategies and their implementation.
Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808973/