Abstract

Diarrhea is among the top ten killers and causes 11% of child deaths globally. According to WHO, diarrhea deaths
in children under five reach 525,000 and children global diarrhea cases was 1.7 billion every year. In Uganda,
diarrhea is among the top four leading direct causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and under five children
following malaria, neonatal diseases and pneumonia. The objectives of this study were to assess water, sanitation
and nutrition factors associated with diarrhea among children under five years of age in Kijumo Village, Bushenyi
District. This study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design that employed quantitative approach for
data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 130 respondents. Data was
analyzed using EPI info (exe) version 7 computer statistical package in order to give a statistical meaning to the
data. Out of 130 children under five years, 38 had diarrhea two weeks before the interview, given a prevalence of
29.2%. The factors associated with diarrhea among children under five years. The results indicates that age of
respondents was associated (p<0.001) with diarrhea; education level (p<0.002) and the child’s age (p<0.001) was
also associated with diarrhea. Drinking water source (p<0.002), drinking water treatment (p<0.001), refuse disposal
(p<0.002) and stool disposal (p<0.002) were associated with diarrhea. Exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.001), age of
introduction of complementary feeding (p<0.003) and mode of feeding the child (p<0.002) were associated with
diarrhea. The health care stakeholders should train, encourage and empower community health workers to provide
continuous health education to mothers on diarrhea prevention and control