1. Diarrhoea among children aged 0-5 years in Ghana: a case of inequality
By Shamir A. Mohammed
Solutions to inequality in diarrhoea prevalence among children 0-5 years in Ghana
Introduction
Diarrhoea is a major cause of death among children < 5yrs in developing countries
About 5,100 children <5years die annually from diarrhoea in Ghana
Severe diarrhoea that leads to dehydration is responsible for morbidity and mortality cases among children < 5 years
About 88% of diarrhoea-associated deaths are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene
Training more artisans in construction of affordable household latrines
Encouraging KVIP caretakers to keep toilets clean
Improvement in household water supply
Construction of more community bore-holes
Increased education on the importance of handwashing
Encouraging mothers to visit hospitals more during diarrhoea diseases.
Encouraging breastfeeding mothers to continue feeding even during diarrhoea disease
Inequality in prevalence of diarrhoea in Ghana
Diarrhoea diseases occur mostly among the poorest in Ghana
Diarrhoea prevalence is lowest among children in households with improved, unshared toilet facilities (5%) and households in highest wealth percentile(7%)
15% of Ghanaians had access to proper sanitation facilities in 2015
83%-89% in rural areas likely to practice open defecation due to lack of household toilet facilities
Poorest 20% ,22 times more likely to practice open defecation compared to the wealthiest 20%
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