Diarrhoea is a common cause of morbidity and a leading cause of death among children aged less than five years, particularly in low and middle income countries. The study was aim to find out the socio demographic, environmental and behavioural determinants of acute diarrhoea among children under five years of age in Northern India. Community-based case control study was carried out at Tertiary care Centre between 2011 to 2013. Data collected from 355/ 150 cases and control respectively using structured and pre-tested questionnaire, entered into a computer, edited and analysed using SPSS version 16.0. Stepwise logistic regression model was used to calculate the Odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for the different risk factors. The study revealed that the occurrence of diarrhoea was significantly associated with children whose mothers were housewife (OR=2.94, 95%CI=1.32-6.52, p=<0.01). The tap water as a source of drinking was significantly associated with the risk of diarrhoea (OR=0.55, 95%CI= 0.28-1.05, p=0.01), diarrhoea was more in those store drinking water. The risk was lower among those in whom the toilet facility was available within the house (OR=0.04, 95%CI=0.02-0.08, p=<0.001). The risk of diarrhoea was lower among those who had good hygienic practices and literate. Diarrhoea was more who live in rural area than urban. Bottle fed children have more risk. As diarrhoea morbidity is major problem among under-five children, continuous, regular and targeted hygiene education programs are very essential in order to bring about behavioural change and reduce the risk of childhood diarrhoeal morbidity.
Keywords: Acute diarrhoea, Case control study, Children, India