Table 2 Summary table of articles in this review

1

Joshi A, Shrestha RPB, 2012 [11]

Cross-sectional study involving 100 children of under 5 years

• Children between 6 and 23 months of age are more susceptible to diarrhoea.

• Bloody diarrhoea was more common in children between 12 and 23 months of age.

• Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitary toilet are associated with childhood diarrhoea.

• Occurrence of diarrhoea was lesser among children from higher wealth quintiles.

2

Ansari S, Sherchand JB, Parajuli K, Paudyal BM, Adhikari RP, Shrestha S et al., 2012 [12]

Cross-sectional study involving 525 children of under 5 years

• Occurrence of diarrhoea was more in children under 24 months.

• Parasitic infection was higher among children between 6 and 24 months.

3

Strand TA, Sharma PR, Gjessing HK, Ulak M, Chandyo RK, Adhikari RK et al., 2012 [13]

Randomised controlled trial involving 335 children of 6–35 months of age

• Children between 6 and 23 months are more at risk for diarrhoea.

• Children that are not breastfed are more at risk for diarrhoea occurrence and the extended duration of the episode.

4

Pokhrel S, Snow R, Dong H, Hidayat B, Flessa S, Sauerborn R, 2005 [16]

Secondary data review from national survey involving 8112 children under 15 years of age

• Male children are more likely to be taken healthcare during illness.

5

Langford RM. 2009 [19]

Community trial (PhD thesis); research included 88 children between 3 and 12 months

• Hand-washing practice among mothers was low after using the toilet, cleaning the child’s bottom, before handling food and before feeding the child.

• Mothers washed hands only when visible contamination of faecal matter was seen.

• Some mothers preferred to just wipe off the dirt without washing hands.

6

Rhee V, Mullany LC, Khatry SK, Katz J, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, et al. 2008 [20]

Cohort study involving 23,662 newborns

• Mortality risk was lower among newborn whose mother or attendant washed hands regularly.

7

Ansari M, Ibrahim MIM, Shankar PR, 2011 [24]

Cross-sectional study involving 130 mothers with children of <5 years

• Mother with higher education had better knowledge on prevention of diarrhoea.

• Mothers unaware about the association of the use of toilet and drinking safe water with the occurrence of diarrhoea.

8

Curtale F, Siwakoti B, Lagrosa C, LaRaja M, Guerra R, 1995 [29]

Comparative cross-sectional study involving 1443 mothers with children of <5 years of age and 208 community health volunteers

• Trained community health volunteers were effective in control of diarrhoea among the under-five children.

9

Ansari M, Izham M, Ibrahim M, Hassali MA, Shankar PR, 2011 [32]

Qualitative study involving 20 mothers

• Supernatural causes (witchcraft) linked with occurrence of diarrhoea among children.

• Some mothers believe in the use of traditional healers for treating diarrhoea.

• Lack of cleanliness was linked with diarrhoea by the mothers.

10

Ansari M, Palaian S, Ibrahim MIM, 2009 [33]

Review

• Cultural belief of supernatural powers in childhood diarrhoea exists in Nepal.

• Traditional practice of fluid restriction and decreased breastfeeding during diarrhoea and use of herbs added to prolong the diarrhoeal episodes among children in Nepal.

11

Stapleton MC, 1989 [34]

Cross-sectional study among 320 health and developmental workers

• Beliefs regarding types of food causing diarrhoea prevailed in the community.

• The concept of ‘hot’ food and ‘cold’ food linked with diarrhoea.

• Evil spirits, frights, bad spells or gods were also linked with the occurrence of diarrhoea.