On some social, behavioural and environmental factors contributing to childhood diarrhoea

Abstract

A general survey on 1583 families and a case control study on 200 families in galle municipality were undertaken to investigate,some of social,behavioural and environmental factors with a view to formulating strategies to reduce the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea; The study found the following principal variables as being causally related to childhood diarrhoea (i) unavailability of pipe borne water within the house (ii) lack of a water seal latrine to the household (iii) low level of morthers' education and lack of awareness among mothers regarding the infectious nature and mode of spread of diarrhoea (iv) not disposing of children's faeces in a latrine (v) improper disposal of garbage.