OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors of childhood diarrhoea in Turkey throughout Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 1998 and 2008 data. METHODS: This study is a further analysis of the database of children under 5 years of age from the Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. Binomial logistic regression and Chi square analysis were used by weighted data of Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys. RESULTS: In 1998 DHS there were 3,459 and in 2008 DHS 3,463 children under 5 years of age. Diarrhoea prevalence was 30.1% and 18.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that household wealth status index, region, mother's education, mother's age (15-19 age), age (under 2 years of age), and sex (male) of the child were the risk factors for 1998 DHS. In 2008 significant risk factors were geographic region, education of the mother and father, breastfeeding status of the child (still being breastfed), mother's age (20-29 age group), and age of child (under 2 years of age). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, patterns of the risk factors of diarrhoea has changed from 1998 to 2008 DHS in Turkey. However, impact of factors related with socioeconomic environment such as region and mother's education persisted.

Department of Public Health Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey

Department of Public Health Near East University Faculty of Medicine Lefkosa Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Institute of Population Studies Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey

Public Health Department Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey

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