Abstract

Diarrhoea is a major public health concern globally, with 2.5 billion cases occurring
annually among children under five. Nearly three-quarters of child deaths are due to
diarrhoea, with 16,000 deaths daily in 2015 from preventable causes like pneumonia,
diarrhoea, and malaria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors
influencing diarrhoea in children under five admitted to Kampala International University
Teaching Hospital. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted, with 238
mothers randomly sampled from the population whose children were admitted. Results
showed a prevalence of 24.4% among children under five admitted to Kampala International
University Teaching Hospital, influenced by factors such as vaccination status, early introduction of supplementary foods, early weaning, and child age. Mothers do not practice exclusive breastfeeding, but introduce their children to other foods at a very early age, coupled with early weaning. The study highlights the need for better prevention and treatment strategies for diarrhoea in under five children