Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 9

Risk Factors of Rotavirus infection among children Hospitalised with Acute Diarrhoea in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

  • Author:
  • Abraham chin Zefong1, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree1,2,, Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim1, Firdaus Hayati3, Khamisah Awang Lukman1, Mohd Yusofibrahim1, Kamrudin Ahmed2
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 1358 to 1363

1Department of Community & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

2Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

3Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Diarrhoeal disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity in children under five years of age but the disease burden particularly of rotavirus and its epidemiology is currently unknown due to under reporting. Around 700-1, 000 children were admitted every year due to acute diarrhoea. These admissions can be prevented if proper vaccination is done. This study aimed to determine risk factors of rotavirus infection among young children hospitalised with acute diarrhoea in Sabah.

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Sabah's Women and Children Hospital from April to June 2018 and investigated 66 children less than five years of age admitted with acute diarrhoea using universal sampling method. Stool samples were collected and tested for rotavirus using Enzyme Immunoassay. Positive samples for rotavirus were then analysed using PCR method. A validated questionnaire was administered to determine risk factors associated with rotavirus infection and to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of parents or caretakers on prevention of diarrhoeal disease among young children in Sabah.

The response rate was 100% which give an overall proportion of rotavirus infection of 28.8%. The significant risk factors were male sex OR 4.3(95% CI 1.1–16.8), poor environmental sanitation OR 5.0 (95% CI 1.6–15.6), and poor diarrhoeal prevention practice OR 4.0 (95% CI 1.0–15.4). Rotavirus strains circulating in Sabah are comprised of G1 P(8), G4 P(8), G9, and other unknown genotypes.

The identification of risk factors for rotavirus infection and the circulating genotype in Sabah is beneficial for a more strategic preventive effort.

Keywords

Rotavirus infection, acute diarrhoea, risk factors, rotavirus genotype