incidence of acute diarrhea among children aged 0 - 1 year in southern brazil, 2012

conclusions the high incidence density of diarrhea among the children recruited in this study indicates the need for educational programs directed at people who are involved in this issue. results the incidence of acute diarrhea among the 0 - 1-year-old children was 26.7 cases per 1,000 children per month. independent risk factors for the occurrence of diarrhea were maternal age under 20 years and health care services provided by the brazilian national health system (sus). objectives the aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and risk factors for acute diarrheal disease in children aged 0 - 1 year. patients and methods an observational prospective cohort study was conducted on 210 children recruited at hospital nossa senhora da conceicao, in tubarao, state of santa catarina, brazil. children born between july and september 2012 were followed up for 12 months. the presence of three or more liquid or loose stools during a 24-hour period was considered acute diarrhea. the categories of variables evaluated were comprised of sociodemographic characteristics (per capita income, maternal education, maternal age, access to medical care [public or private], and housing and living conditions [sanitation and hygiene, water supply, daycare attendance, and domestic animal]) and characteristics of the child (gender, birth weight, and breastfeeding). background the incidence rate of acute diarrheal disease in children is a health indicator, and the estimation of these data can help guide public health policies.