Factors associated with acute bloody diarrhea among adults in governmental health facilities of Bahir Dar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: In Africa, an estimated 115 people die of diarrheal diseases
every hour due to poor sanitation and hygiene. Acute bloody diarrhea is one
among the 20 prioritized diseases of public health importance in Ethiopia.
However; its determinants are not well studied.
Objective: To identify the determinant factors of acute bloody diarrhea among
adults in government health facilities Bahir Dar Zuria district, North West
Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based case-control study was employed among 326 (81
cases, 245 controls) adults aged≥18years who visited the outpatient departments of public health facilities and
participants were selected through systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by trained nurses
using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS 20.
Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to identify determinant factors of bloody
diarrhea and control the confounding effect. Associations were described using odds ratio at 95%CI and
significance level was determined at p-value of < 0.05.
Result: A total of 321 (81 cases, 240 controls) participated in the study with a response rate of 98.5 %. The
mean age was 32.9 years (±11.55SD) and 33.9(±11.28SD) among cases and controls respectively. The
proportions of rural dwellers were 66 (81.5%) among cases and 194(80.8%) among controls. Water
consumption per capital ≥ 20 Litters [AOR=0.32 ;95% CI: 0.17-0.63], absence water from main source ≥one
day [AOR=3.43;95% CI: 1.65-7.14], draw water by dipping [AOR=2.95;95% CI: 1.23-7.07], use of shared
latrine [AOR=8.48;95% CI: 3.49-20.57], infrequent hand washing before food preparation [AOR 2.27;95% CI:
1.08-4.75], not applying detergent during hand washing [AOR= 4.37;95% CI: 2.01-9.48] were the determinants
of acute bloody diarrhea.
Conclusion and recommendation: Based on the current findings, water availability and consumption, not
having independent latrine, knowledge about acute bloody diarrhea and personal behavior (no habit of hand
washing before food preparation and no use of detergents) were determinant factors for acute bloody diarrhea
among adults. It is vital to increase water access, improving latrine ownership and regular awareness creation
about the cause, transmission, prevention and management of acute bloody.