BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a major cause of death in children in developing countries. However, in Brazil, diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality have declined over the past decades. OBJECTIVE: To explore community perspectives in Brazil on changes in health related to diarrhea and factors that may have contributed to these changes. METHODS: This qualitative study included 12 focus group sessions held with 50 mothers and 42 grandmothers in the state of Ceará. RESULTS: Most grandmothers reported having lost at least one child to diarrhea, and all participants had witnessed children dying from diarrhea in the past. The participants saw a clear decline in diarrhea over the past 20 years. They felt that this was due to social, economic, and cultural progress. The participants also considered government-supported outreach programs very important for health improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of diarrhea and its causes in the community is broad, but many traditional beliefs about the illness still prevail. The Brazilian experience is an example of the critical effect that policies to promote income redistribution and universal access to education, health, water supply, and sanitation services may have on the reduction of undernutrition and diarrhea among children.
BACKGROUND:Diarrhea is a major cause of death in children in developing countries. However, in Brazil, diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality have declined over the past decades. OBJECTIVE: To explore community perspectives in Brazil on changes in health related to diarrhea and factors that may have contributed to these changes. METHODS: This qualitative study included 12 focus group sessions held with 50 mothers and 42 grandmothers in the state of Ceará. RESULTS: Most grandmothers reported having lost at least one child to diarrhea, and all participants had witnessed children dying from diarrhea in the past. The participants saw a clear decline in diarrhea over the past 20 years. They felt that this was due to social, economic, and cultural progress. The participants also considered government-supported outreach programs very important for health improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of diarrhea and its causes in the community is broad, but many traditional beliefs about the illness still prevail. The Brazilian experience is an example of the critical effect that policies to promote income redistribution and universal access to education, health, water supply, and sanitation services may have on the reduction of undernutrition and diarrhea among children.
Authors: Luciano Lima Correia; Anamaria Cavalcante e Silva; Jocileide Sales Campos; Francisca Maria de Oliveira Andrade; Márcia Maria Tavares Machado; Ana Cristina Lindsay; Alvaro Jorge Madeiro Leite; Hermano Alexandre Lima Rocha; Antonio José Ledo Alves da Cunha Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 2.106
Authors: Abdur Razzaque Sarker; Marufa Sultana; Rashidul Alam Mahumud; Nurnabi Sheikh; Robert Van Der Meer; Alec Morton Journal: Glob Pediatr Health Date: 2016-11-30
Authors: Tom Rawlinson; André Machado Siqueira; Gilberto Fontes; Renata Paula Lima Beltrão; Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro; Marilaine Martins; Edson Fidelis Silva-Júnior; Maria Paula Gomes Mourão; Bernardino Albuquerque; Maria das Graças Costa Alecrim; Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2014-05-08