| dc.description.abstract | In Kenya diarrhoeal diseases is one of the leading causes of mortality in children less than 5 years and accounted for 21% of the cases (MoPHS, 2010).Diarrhoeal prevalence has remained unchanged as seen in the KDHS reports of 2003 where the prevalence reported was 16% while in 2008/9 KDHS report the prevalence was 17% in the households surveyed. Rotavirus infection is a major cause of dehydrating diarrhoea globally and leads to high hospitalization of children less than 5 years. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated clinical presentation of rotavirus infection in children less than 5 years hospitalized at Embu Provincial Hospital with diarrhoea. A descriptive-cohort prospective study was conducted at Embu PGH a level 5 facility in Eastern province, as from January 2009-December 2011. 555 children were enrolled into the study, their stool specimens were collected and analyzed using commercial rotavirus antigen detection-enzyme immune assay kit.
The prevalence of rotavirus infection was found to be 26.7% these finding was compared to the 30% prevalence set on the WHO Generic Protocol on Rotavirus Surveillance for Developing Countries. The one sample proportion test done showed that the two prevalence rates as being similar, there was no significant statistical difference between the two prevalence. The study found that a child hospitalized at Embu PGH with diarrhoea was 1.99 times more likely to be RV Positive if he vomits compared to a child who does not vomit these was statistically significant with a P. value of 0.015. It was also found that the Children with rotavirus infection were 1.6 times more likely to be treated with intravenous fluids as compared to oral rehydration salt, these finding was statistically significant with a p. value of 0.037.RV gastroenteritis is an important aetiologic agent in causing dehydrating diarrhoea in children less than 5 years hospitalized in Embu PGH. To mitigate the effects of RV gastroenteritis and control the disease burden the introduction of RV vaccination nationally can impact on RV infection. The control measures that focus on improved hygiene and sanitation are able to deal and impact on diarrhoeal diseases brought about by bacterial and or parasitic agents and should therefore still be encouraged at all levels. | en_US |
