Reducing Childhood Diarrhoea by Integrated Home-Based Interventions

A combination of better indoor air, clean drinking water and improved hygiene in Peruvian households reduces the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea by 29% according to a community randomised trial conducted by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and the Instituto de Investigación Nutricional (IIN). Therefore, major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality can be prevented by simple low-cost interventions conclude the authors in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Diarrhoea and lower respiratory infections are among the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in rural Peru. Researchers from Swiss TPH and IIN showed that the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea and diarrhoea episodes can be reduced by 29% and 22% respectively by introducing low-cost intervention at household level, consisting of clean-energy cook stoves, kitchen sinks, solar-purified water and hygiene education. «The lives of many children can be prevented by integrated low-cost-interventions», says Stella Hartinger-Peña, first author of the study. The study supports recent trends by the World Health Organization to address child morbidity and mortality in underprivileged families through improved household air quality, water and home-, personaland food hygiene conditions. Training of Mothers is Key for Improved Child Health Mothers were assigned a crucial role in the trial.