*1Igwe, D., 2Oshun, P., 2Osuagwu, C., 1Efunshile, A., and 2Oduyebo, O.
1Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine/Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, PMB 102, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2College of Medicine/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, University of Lagos, Nigeria*Correspondence to: daniel.igwe@npmcn.edu.ng.
Abstract:
Background: Diarrhea is a worldwide problem and rotavirus is the commonest viral etiologic agent. In Nigeria, diarrhea causes more than 315,000 deaths of preschool-age children annually. In Ebonyi State, it is among the leading causes of pediatric emergency visits and one of the major causes of infant morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of acute gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection among under-five children in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.
This was a cross-sectional study of 275 children under 5 years of age hospitalized for acute watery diarrhea, who were consecutively recruited into the study. Stool samples were collected from each child for rotavirus antigen detection using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Socio-demographic information of each child and selected risk factors were collected using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done on SPSS software version 20.0, and association of demographic characteristics and risk factors with rotavirus diarrhoea was measured using Chi-square test, odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval). Significant value was set at p < 0.05. Continue reading “Prevalence and risk factors of acute gastroenteritis caused by Rotavirus among children in tertiary hospitals, southeastern Nigeria”