Factors Rrelated to The Occurrence of Diarrhea Among Toddlers in The Coastal Area of Pasar Ikan Health Center, Bengkulu City

Abstract

Intoduction: Diarrhea is one of the diseases that causes the highest mortality, especially in children under five years old (toddlers). WHO data indicates that 2 million children worldwide die from diarrhea. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia reported that in 2024, there were 423 cases of diarrhea per 1,000 population. Data from the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office in 2024 showed 465 cases, with 284 cases occurring in toddlers. The health center reported 18 cases of diarrhea in 2024, which remains a health issue. The aim of this study is to determine the factors related to the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers. Method: This research is a quantitative study using a cross-sectional design. The sampling technique employed is accidental sampling. A total of 42 respondents were found. The analysis used involves univariate and bivariate analysis with the Chi-Square test.Result and Discussion: Nearly half of the respondents experienced diarrhea, the majority had unsupportive attitudes, and almost half had insufficient knowledge, with nearly half not practicing exclusive breastfeeding. There is a relationship between maternal attitudes (p=0.003), knowledge (p=0.000), and exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.042) with the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers. Conclusion It is recommended for future researchers to investigate environmental factors related to diarrhea incidence in toddlers using multivariate analysis and in-depth interviews.