Limited water access is associated with food insecurity and diarrheal episodes among children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition in Far-North Cameroon

Author:

Nounkeu Carole Debora1ORCID,Teta Ismael2,Dharod Jigna Morarji3ORCID,Saha Foudjo Brice Ulrich4ORCID,Ntentie Francoise Raissa5,Boris Azantsa Kingue6,Georges Nguefack-Tsague7ORCID,Oben Julius8

Affiliation:

1. Regional Hospital Limbe, South West, P.O. Box 219, Limbe, Cameroon

2. Helen Keller International, Yaoundé, Cameroon

3. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

4. Department of Biochemistry, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon

5. Higher Teacher's Training College, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon

6. Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

7. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

8. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract To gain further understanding of the interlinkages between poor water access, household food insecurity, and undernutrition among children, this study used a cross-sectional design with 474 female caretakers of children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) to explore the relationship between limited access to water and diarrheal diseases among children, aged <5 years, experiencing MAM. The mean age of the caretakers was 28.50±6.88 years and that of their MAM children (sex ratio=0.7) was 17.79±9.59 months. The participants reported spending an average of 19.29±15.69 min for one trip to fetch water. A negative correlation was found between mean time spent fetching drinking water and hygiene and handwashing score (r=−0.141, p=0.003). Furthermore, the more severe the food insecurity status of a household, the farther the family member likely had to go to fetch drinking water [F(2, 444)=8.64, p≤0.001]. Results from binary logistic regression showed that children from households practicing open defecation (p=0.008) and/or having inadequate hygiene practices (p=0.004) had increased odds of developing diarrhea. Therefore, ameliorating water access in households with MAM children could contribute to improvements in hygiene and sanitation attitudes with a subsequent increase in the effectiveness of nutrition interventions aiming at reducing acute malnutrition among children.

Funder

USAID

Publisher

IWA Publishing

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Pollution,Waste Management and Disposal,Water Science and Technology,Development

Reference40 articles.

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