The Western 45 Counties Under The Age Of Children's Colds And Diarrhea Prevalence Rate And Its Influencing Factors

Background and ObjectiveChildren health is a very important public health issue in developing countries, especially in young children whose health situation is closely related with social-economic and health care develepment medical application factors. Common cold(Acute Respiratory Infection) and diarrhoea are common diseases for children in developing countries, especially in rural areas. These diseases impeded the growth or development of children to a great extent. There are 13,000,000 children died of infectious deseases and 10,000,000 of them are under 5. Infectious diseases contribute to 70% of all causes for children mortality and 99% of them are from developing countries. The reasons for the above phenomena are not very clear. It is very important for improving children health to explore the prevalence of common cold and diarrhoea and their correlations in china.Data were collected from National Primary Health Care Program (2001-2005), which was sponsored by Chinese MOH and UNICEF. The aim of this study is to explore the distribution of the prevalence of common cold and diarrhoea in children under 3 and their correlations. The findings of the study are expected to have important policy implications for recommendations on the rational prevention of common cold and diarrhoea and improve the growth or development of children in China.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, children under 3 and their mothers across 45 counties in Western China were included. A 3-stage sampling method was used in the study. 5 twonships were drawn from each county, and 4 villages were drawn from each selected twomship. Total16 families with children under 3 were drawn from each selected village. A questionnaire was prepared for children and their mothers. The study subjects were interviewed at home. EpiData 3. 02 was used to record questionnaire information, and SPSS13.0 software and excel were used to analyze the data. x~2 test and logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis.Results1. The two-week prevalence rates of common cold and diarrhoea for children under 3 across 45 counties of western China in 2005 were 19.1% and 7.4%, respectively. The prevalence rates in 2005 were dramatically lower than those (28.2% and 18.2% respectively) in 2001. The prevalence rate of common cold for boys (19.8%) was significantly higher than those for girls (18.1%). And the prevalence rate of diarrhoea for boys (7.6%) was slightly higher than those for girls (7.1 %). The prevalence rates of common cold and diarrhoea for children decreased with ages.2. The two-week prevalence rates of common cold for children under 3 across 45 counties of Western China in 2005 were 15.4%, 21.2%, 21.3%, 14.9% respectively for the first class villages, the second class villages, the third class villages and the forth class villages. The two-week prevalence rates of diarrhoea for children under 3 across 45 counties of western China in 2005 were 5.7%, 5.9%, 6.6%, 13.4% respectively for first class villages, second class villages, third class villages and forth class villages.3. The influence factors of two-week prevalence rate of common cold for children were village classes (OR=1.058), children ages (OR=0.915), times of postnatal visiting (OR=0.889), mothers' educated by disease prevention for children (OR=0.797) and mothers' ethnics (OR=0.724). The influence factors of two-week prevalence rate of diarrhoea for children were mothers' ethnic group (OR=1.299), village classes (OR=1.178), times of postnatal visiting (OR=0.926), hospital delivery (OR=0.798), exclusive breast feeding under 6 months (OR=0.730), iodized salt (OR=0.722), children ages (OR=0.683), special cooking for children (OR=0.670) and vitamin A intake (OR=0.455).Conclusions1. The two-week prevalence rates of common cold and diarrhoea for children under 3 across 45 counties of western China in 2005 were higher than the national average level, and the rates were lower than 2001. The two-week prevalence rates of common cold and diarrhea for children decreased along with ages.2. The influence factors of two-week prevalence rate of common cold for children under 3 were social-economic developing levels, health situation in rinatal period, feeding styles and mothers' knowledge of prevention of diseases.3. Strategies to reduce the prevalence rate of common cold for children under 3 were improving antenatal and postnatal care, popularizing knowledge of prevention of children diseases, timely adding protein food for children. Strategies to reduce the prevalence rate of diarrhoea for children under 3 were improving antenatal and postnatal care, increasing special cooking for children and increasing pure breast feeding under 6 months.