Factors Associated with Diarrhea Occurrence in The Working Area of Tanjung Sakti Health Center, Lahat Regency

Abstract

The main cause of death from diarrhea, resulting from fluid and electrolyte loss through stool, is dehydration. Many factors influence the incidence of diarrhea, including environmental factors, nutritional status, population, education, knowledge, socioeconomic status, and behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with the incidence of diarrhea in the Tanjung Sakti Community Health Center (Puskesmas) working area, Lahat Regency. The method used was an analytical survey with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in the form of primary data by distributing questionnaires to 42 mothers with toddlers in the Tanjung Sakti Community Health Center working area, Lahat Regency, using a total sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test. Univariate analysis showed that almost half of the mothers (42.9%) had insufficient knowledge, more than half of the mothers (54.8%) had poor behavior, more than half of the mothers (61.9%) had normal nutritional status with toddlers, and more than half of the respondents (59.5%) had toddlers experiencing diarrhea. Bivariate analysis results showed a relationship between maternal knowledge and diarrhea incidence (p=0.005), maternal behavior and diarrhea incidence (p=0.016), and toddler nutritional status and diarrhea incidence (p=0.010). The researchers recommend that community health centers (Puskesmas) conduct outreach and routine visits, both at the center and at residents' homes, especially to mothers with toddlers to increase community knowledge and change behavior in managing diarrhea in toddlers.