Factores de riesgo de las enfermedades diarreicas agudas en menores de cinco años. Centro de salud materno infantil y emergencia, Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 2025
Risk factors for acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years of age. Maternal and child health and emergency center, Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 2025

María Eugenia Quiroz Barreto, Jazmín Beatriz Anzules Guerra

Resumen


RESUMEN
La enfermedad diarreica aguda (EDA) es una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad infantil en países en desarrollo donde persisten limitaciones en saneamiento, acceso a agua segura y prácticas adecuadas de higiene. Con el objetivo de identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a las enfermedades diarreicas agudas en niños menores de cinco años. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, observacional y analítico de casos y controles, en el Centro de Salud Materno Infantil y Emergencia de Bahía de Caráquez entre enero-junio 2025. Se analizaron 81 encuestas, correspondientes a 39 casos y 42 controles. Se aplicó un cuestionario estructurado a madres o cuidadores, basado en el manual AIEPI. Se efectuó análisis descriptivo y bivariado con chi-cuadrado, complementado con Odds ratio e intervalos de confianza al 95%. Los resultados mostraron homogeneidad en la mayoría de las condiciones de vivienda, agua y prácticas básicas de higiene, sin diferencias entre casos y controles. No obstante, el hacinamiento se asoció significativamente con la presencia de EDA (p = 0.002). El hallazgo más relevante fue el almacenamiento conjunto de alimentos crudos y cocidos, práctica que incrementó más de seis veces el riesgo de enfermedad (OR=6.53; IC95%: 1.69–25.16; p = 0.001). En conclusión, las condiciones estructurales de agua y saneamiento parecen relativamente cubiertas en esta población urbana; sin embargo, persisten riesgos vinculados a las prácticas intradomiciliarias. La educación comunitaria en inocuidad alimentaria, especialmente en la separación y manejo seguro de alimentos, emerge como estrategia clave para reducir la carga de EDA en esta población.

ABSTRACT
Acute diarrheal disease (ADD) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries where limitations persist in sanitation, access to safe water, and adequate hygiene practices. To identify risk factors associated with acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years of age, a quantitative, observational, and analytical case-control study was conducted at the Maternal and Child Health and Emergency Center in Bahía de Caráquez between January and June 2025. Eighty-one surveys were analyzed, corresponding to 39 cases and 42 controls. A structured questionnaire, based on the IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) manual, was administered to mothers or caregivers. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed using the chi-square test, complemented by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The results showed homogeneity in most housing conditions, water access, and basic hygiene practices, with no differences between cases and controls. However, overcrowding was significantly associated with the presence of foodborne illness (p = 0.002). The most relevant finding was the combined storage of raw and cooked foods, a practice that increased the risk of illness more than sixfold (OR=6.53; 95% CI: 1.69–25.16; p = 0.001). In conclusion, structural water and sanitation conditions appear to be relatively adequate in this urban population; however, risks related to household practices persist. Community education in food safety, especially regarding food separation and safe handling, emerges as a key strategy for reducing the burden of foodborne illness in this population.

Recibido: 27-12-2025.

Aprobado: 03-02-2026.

Publicado:29-06-2026


Palabras clave


contaminación de alimentos; deshidratación; enfermedad aguda; informe de casos; pediatría;food contamination; dehydration; acute disease; case report; pediatrics.

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Referencias


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