PERSONAL AND DOMESTIC HYGIENE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE INCIDENCE OF DIARRHEA IN SOUTH SUMATERA

The association of risk factors and diarrhoeal disease incidence among children less than 3 years of age in District Rambutan, South Sumatera, was investigated by a 20-week case-control study of 48 households with a high incidence of diarrhoeal diseases and 111 households with low incidence. Among sociodemographic characteristics, television ownership had a significant negative association with diarrhoeal disease incidence (odds ratio [OR] 3.22). The hygiene behaviour significantly associated with diarrhoeal diseases were: disposing of children's faeces in open places rather than in a latrine (OR > 10.47); bathing children in rivers rather than at wells (OR 2.88); children eating with their hands rather than with spoons (OR 5.6); household members defecating in open places rather than a latrine (OR 2.56); house without sewage system (OR 6.98). To control diarrhoeal diseases in the study area, we suggest targeting three groups of behaviour for modification: those related to a) faeces disposal, b) sanitary drainage, and c) handwashing with soap and using spoons for eating.