ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5014-5011
Abstract
We used secondary data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys of 2010, 2015, and 2020 to assess the spatial-temporal variation of diarrhea among children under 5 years old between the years 2010 and 2020 in Rwanda. Stratified descriptive statistics, pairwise comparisons, and logistic regression designs were used for data analysis in SPSS. A statistically significant variation of diarrhea among children under 5 years old was observed across districts, regions, and urban–rural areas but not at the national level between 2010–2020. Some districts of the Western region, including Nyabihu (OR = 2.5), Ngororero (OR = 2.3), and Karongi (OR = 1.8); the Northern region, including Gicumbi (OR = 2.0) and Musanze (OR = 1.7); and the Southern region, including Nyamagabe (OR = 1.8), Nyanza (OR = 1.7), and Nyaruguru (OR = 2.4) were at higher risk of diarrhea in 2020 compared to Nyarugenge district. The Western region (OR = 1.7) was consistently at higher risk of diarrhea among children under 5 years old between 2010–2020 compared to Kigali City. The prevalence of diarrhea was consistently higher in rural areas (OR = 1.3) compared to urban areas. The spatial variation of diarrhea and its stagnant reduction with time may be due to uneven spatial distribution of diarrhea risk factors, lack of adapted diarrhea control interventions, and/or irregularities in the design and implementation of existing diarrhea control interventions. Area-specific, tailored diarrhea control interventions and their effective implementation are required to ensure a significant reduction of diarrhea among children under 5 years old over time across districts in Rwanda.
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