Diarrheal Factors among Children under Five Years of Age on Health Systems Performance in Western Kenya: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years in Kenya. The study investigated diarrheal factors and health systems performance among children under five years in Migori County of western Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing questionnaires, interview guides and focus group discussions for data collection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square goodness of fit test was applied for univariate analyses. On examining variables associated with outcome of interest, binary logistic regression model was advanced. Out of the 334 children, majority (58%) were female, [X² (1, N=334) =11.04, p = 0.002] with a mean age of 32 months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed the variables which were significant in predicting the outcome. They included; latrine ownership (COR=1.56: CI= 1.14,1.79 ; p = 0.003) and (AOR= 1.25 (CI = 1.08, 1.67; p = 0.002), presence of flies on latrine (COR=0.22: CI= 0.11,0.67; p = 0.005) and (AOR=0.17: CI= 0.09,0.52; p = 0.003) and practicing OD (COR=0.38: CI= 0.24,0.53; p = 0.006) and (AOR= 0.21 (CI = 0.18,0.47; p = 0.005). Regression modeling had significant prediction performances X²(3, N=334 = 19.75, p=0.003) for factors associated with performance of the health systems. The regression modelling (Y=mx+b) on factors (Y=102.489, R² = 0.826) proved that they were significantly good predictors of the outcome variable. The study concluded that diarrheal factors significantly predicted the response variable. The researchers concluded for a more specific focus on risk factors attributed to diarrhea and found to influence performance of health systems.