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Abstract

Diarrhea among children under five remains a significant public health problem, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water, such as Central Papua Province. The physical quality of household drinking water is often used as an initial indicator of water safety; however, its association with diarrhea incidence among under-five children is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the physical quality of household drinking water and the occurrence of diarrhea among children under five in Central Papua Province using data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI). A cross-sectional study design was applied using secondary data from SKI 2023, with a sample of 812 children who met the inclusion criteria. The physical quality of drinking water was assessed based on five indicators namely turbidity color taste foam and odor while diarrhea incidence was measured based on diagnosis by health professionals within the past one month.. Data analysis was conducted using univariate analysis, bivariate analysis with the Chi-square test, and multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression. The results showed that 12.2% of children experienced diarrhea, and 10.2% of households used drinking water with poor physical quality. Bivariate analysis indicated no significant association between the physical quality of drinking water and diarrhea among children under five (p = 0.966). However, multivariate analysis revealed that the type of drinking water source was significantly associated with diarrhea incidence (AOR = 3.325; 95% CI: 1.191–5.776). This study concludes that the physical quality of drinking water is not a primary determinant of diarrhea among children under five, while access to safe and adequate drinking water sources plays an important role in diarrhea prevention.

References

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Bahasa Abstract

Diarrhea among children under five remains a significant public health problem, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water, such as Central Papua Province. The physical quality of household drinking water is often used as an initial indicator of water safety; however, its association with diarrhea incidence among under-five children is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the physical quality of household drinking water and the occurrence of diarrhea among children under five in Central Papua Province using data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI). A cross-sectional study design was applied using secondary data from SKI 2023, with a sample of 812 children who met the inclusion criteria. The physical quality of drinking water was assessed based on five indicators namely turbidity color taste foam and odor while diarrhea incidence was measured based on diagnosis by health professionals within the past one month.. Data analysis was conducted using univariate analysis, bivariate analysis with the Chi-square test, and multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression. The results showed that 12.2% of children experienced diarrhea, and 10.2% of households used drinking water with poor physical quality. Bivariate analysis indicated no significant association between the physical quality of drinking water and diarrhea among children under five (p = 0.966). However, multivariate analysis revealed that the type of drinking water source was significantly associated with diarrhea incidence (AOR = 3.325; 95% CI: 1.191–5.776). This study concludes that the physical quality of drinking water is not a primary determinant of diarrhea among children under five, while access to safe and adequate drinking water sources plays an important role in diarrhea prevention.

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