Thesis:

Risk factors for acute watery diarrhea among the under five in bentiu protection of civilian’s site, unity state, South Sudan.

According to current global estimates, 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrheal diseases occur every year. In Africa, it is estimated that every child, on average, has 5 episodes of acute watery diarrhea per year and about 800,000 children are loss every year from the disease. In South Sudan, acute watery diarrhea is the number one cause of death among the under-five age bracket, accounting for 42.9% of the annual mortality rate. The objectives of this study are to determine the socio-demographic factors which influence the occurrence of acute watery diarrhea in Bentiu internally displaced camp, the level of awareness of acute watery diarrhea, and to investigate environmental factors that influence the occurrence of acute water diarrhea. A descriptive cross- sectional design was applied for this research using mixed approaches of quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches. A cluster random sampling procedure was used to select the research participants. A sample of 439 participants participated in this study. The findings showed that educational level of the caretakers of the under-five children significantly influences the present of watery diarrheal disease within the children below 5 years (p-Value = 0.007). Additionally, the sex of under- five greatly influences the present of diarrheal diseases among children below 5 years (p-value = 0.007). Vaccinating children with the Rotavirus vaccine has a significant relationship with the present of diarrhea among children below 5 (p-value = 0.000). Water treatment methods also significantly influence the occurrence of diarrhea among under-fives (P value = 0.000). The status and condition of water containers and cups also significantly influence the present of diarrhea among children below 5 (p-value = 0.000). The availability of toilet facilities also significantly influences the present of diarrheal diseases within children below five (p- value = 0.000). Other factors contributed with the present of diarrhea among under-five children include personal hygiene of caretakers (0.000), washing hands before feeding (0.000), and exclusive breastfeeding (0.001). In conclusion, low educational level from the caretakers, sex of the child, lack of child vaccination with Rota Virus vaccine, lack of proper water treatment method, poor status of the water container and absent of hand washing facilities are the caused of acute watery diarrhea in Bentiu Protection of Civilian site. Based on these findings, the United Nations and its agencies need to improve sanitation in POCs through the provision of safe and hygienic toilet facilities. The UN and its agencies need to provide effective water treatment methods. International and national organizations providing WASH activities in POCs need to sensitize communities on hygiene and sanitation. The national Ministry of Health, with the state Ministry, needs to provide immunization services, especially Rotavirus antigens, to boost the immune systems of under-fives against diarrheal diseases in Bentiu Protection of Civilian Site. There is a serious need for more studies regarding diarrheal diseases and the relation of diarrheal diseases with acute malnutrition.