Risk factors contributing to acute diarrhoeal disease in children below five years.

Data regarding factors contributing to acute diarrhoea in children under five years in urban populations in Sri Lanka is meagre. Studies of diarrhoeal disease have been limited mainly to descriptive epidemiological investigations. A case control study on 200 families in the Galle Municipality was undertaken to identify some of the social, behavioural and environmental factors contributing to childhood diarrhoea. Twelve variables were studied by logistic regression, and the following variables were identified as conferring a significant risk of causing diarrhoeal disease in children below five years in an urban setting in Sri Lanka; (1) unavailability of pipe-borne water in the house (2) lack of water-seal latrine in the household (3) low level of mother's education and her lack of awareness regarding infectious nature and mode of spread of diarrhoea (4) not disposing of children's faeces in a latrine (5) improper disposal of garbage.