Formerly Ibrahim Medical College Journal
Affiliations: Department of Research and Development, Fescosof Data Solutions, Nigeria
Affiliations: Nephrology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
Affiliations: University of Central Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua
Affiliations: Management Department, Akesis, Abuja, Nigeria
Affiliations: Lagos State Health Service Commission, Family Medicine Department, General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
Affiliations: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Babcock University, Nigeria
Affiliations: Infectious Hazard Management, World Health Organization, Accra Ghana
Affiliations: Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
Affiliations: Strategic Information (M&E) Department, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Nigeria
Affiliations: School of Business (OHS), Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Affiliations: Field Presence Cluster, World Health Organisation, Abuja, Nigeria
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Services, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Nigeria
Background and objectives: Rotavirus is a significant cause of nonbacterial diarrhea, especially in infants and young children worldwide. This study evaluated the pattern of rotavirus infection in children under five years presenting with acute diarrhea in Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.
Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study to describe the prevalence of rotavirus infection among children. The study enrolled children 1 to 59 months old with acute diarrhea attending General Paediatric Outpatient clinic and hospitalized in the Emergency Paediatric Unit of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stool by qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The study comprised of 414 diarrhoeal children aged 1–59 months, of which 226 (54.6%) were male and the mean age was 12.1 months. The overall rate of rotavirus infection was 43.0% (178/ 414). The rotavirus infection was slightly higher among females than in males (46.8% vs 39.8%; p=0.153). Children from upper and middle social classes were at 1.95 [CI=1.17–3.26] and 3.08[CI=1.77–5.34] times higher risks of rotavirus induced diarrhea than the children from the lower social class (p<0.005). Children whose mothers had post-secondary education were three times more at risk of rotavirus diarrhea [OR=3.70; CI=1.46–9.36] than those with primary or no formal education (p<0.05). Children who had never been vaccinated against rotavirus were four times more likely to suffer rotavirus infection than those who had been vaccinated [OR=3.96; 95%CI=1.13–13.89, p=0.032].
Conclusion: This study found that rotavirus was an important causative agent of diarrhea in children in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Due to low rotavirus vaccination status in children, rotavirus screening tests are necessary for children with acute diarrheal disease.
J Med Sci. 2022; 16(2): 010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.16.020
