Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 8, Issue 1-2, December 2018, Pages 42 - 47

Sex and Gender Differences in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea: A Secondary Analysis of the DHAKA Study

Authors
Angela F. Jarman1, 2, *, Sara E. Long2, Sarah E. Robertson2, Sabiha Nasrin3, Nur Haque Alam3, Alyson J. McGregor1, Adam C. Levine1, 2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
2Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
3Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author. Email: angela.jarman@gmail.com
Corresponding Author
Angela F. Jarman
Received 15 February 2018, Accepted 28 April 2018, Available Online 31 December 2018.
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.102How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Bangladesh; diarrheal illness; gender; pediatric
Abstract

Pediatric diarrheal disease is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. While several studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of diarrheal illness in boys compared with girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the reasons for this difference are unclear. This secondary analysis of the dehydration: assessing kids accurately (DHAKA) derivation and validation studies included children aged <5 years old with acute diarrhea in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The dehydration status was established by percentage weight change with rehydration. Multivariable regression was used to compare percent dehydration, while controlling for differences in age and nutritional status. In this cohort, a total of 1396 children were analyzed; 785 were male (56.2%) and 611 were female (43.8%). Girls presenting with diarrhea were older than boys (median age 17 months vs. 15 months, p = 0.02) and had significantly more malnutrition than boys, even when controlled for age (mean 134.2 mm vs. 136.4 mm, p < 0.01). The mean percent dehydration did not differ between boys and girls after controlling for age and nutrition status (p = 0.25). Although girls did have higher rates of malnutrition than boys, measures of diarrhea severity were similar between the two groups, arguing against a cultural bias in care-seeking behavior that favors boys.

Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
8 - 1-2
Pages
42 - 47
Publication Date
2018/12/31
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.102How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Angela F. Jarman
AU  - Sara E. Long
AU  - Sarah E. Robertson
AU  - Sabiha Nasrin
AU  - Nur Haque Alam
AU  - Alyson J. McGregor
AU  - Adam C. Levine
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/12/31
TI  - Sex and Gender Differences in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea: A Secondary Analysis of the DHAKA Study
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 42
EP  - 47
VL  - 8
IS  - 1-2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.102
DO  - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.08.102
ID  - Jarman2018
ER  -