Association of Safe Disposal of Child Feces and Reported Diarrhea in Indonesia: Need for Stronger Focus on a Neglected Risk

Aidan A. Cronin, Susy Katikana Sebayang, Harriet Torlesse and Robin Nandy
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Aidan A. Cronin: UNICEF Indonesia, World Trade Center 6, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 31, Jakarta 12920, Indonesia
Susy Katikana Sebayang: Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Banyuwangi Campus, Jalan Wijaya Kusuma No 113, Banyuwangi 68414, Indonesia
Harriet Torlesse: UNICEF Indonesia, World Trade Center 6, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 31, Jakarta 12920, Indonesia
Robin Nandy: UNICEF Indonesia, World Trade Center 6, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 31, Jakarta 12920, Indonesia

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Indonesia still faces several challenges in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Diarrhea remains a major killer of children and it is important to understand the local diarrhea transmission pathways to prioritise appropriate WASH interventions to reduce diarrhea burden. This study used a cross-sectional data set from a recent national household survey (the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey) to examine the associations between diarrhea in children aged less than 24 months with WASH interventions and population characteristics. Unsafe disposal of child feces was strongly associated with an increased odds of child diarrhea (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.18–1.82, p = 0.001). However, other WASH practices were not found to be associated. The findings underline the dangers of unsafe disposal of child feces and highlight the need for strengthening the related policies and program strategies and their implementation.

Keywords: Indonesia; child feces disposal; diarrhea; water; sanitation; hygiene; care practices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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