Prevallence and associated factors of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Children age 0-5 years in Moshi 2009

Abstract

Background/Introduction: Diarrhea is a leading killer of children around the world. Responsible for 4 to 6 million deaths per year according to the World Health Organization. The disease is characterised by vomiting, fever and watery diarrhoea, associated with dehydration and sometimes death in children. It is associated with high cases of morbidity and mortality and it is estimated that up to 600,000 deaths in young children occur annually in the less developed countries and approximately 150,000- 200,000 deaths occur in Africa alone. Rotavirus is the leading viral agent causing gastroenteritis in children.

Rationale: The study aimed at accurately determining the prevalence and associated factors of group A rotavirus disease in a resource-poor setting necessary to make informed decisions on provision appropriate interventions for prevention and control.

Objectives To determine the prevalence and associated factors of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children aged 0-5 years in Moshi Municipal Health facilities.

Methodology: This was cross- sectional descriptive study conducted in a hospital setting, involving children of five years of age and below with diarrhoea, and whose faecal samples were collected and tested for rotavirus by ELISA test at MUHAS Microbiology laboratory. All patients who met case definition were included in the study. Completed questionnaires were coded by numbers and double entered in a computer using Epi info software version 3.5.1. Chi- squire test was used to explore bivariate associations for categorical variables.

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Results Of the 249 children with diarrhoea 31(12.4%) showed stool rotavirus positive results among these, 17 (54.8%) were females and14 (45.2%) were males. Prevalence varied by sex being 5.6% in males and 6.8% among females. The over all mean age was 23.3 months; mean age for females was 23.5 months where as for males was 23.0 months. Rotavirus positive specific age group distribution, 30 (96.8%) children are in the age group 7- 24 months and 1(3.2%) child in the age group 25-60 months.

Conclusion and Recommendations: This study shows insignificant prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis that could decrease the importance of vaccination by health education to parents on oral rehydration therapy, general sanitation, improvement of water supplies and proper excreta disposal this could reduce the burden of diarrhea diseases including rotavirus.