Abstract
Diarrhea remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where nutritional status and hygiene practices are often suboptimal. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal occupation, children’s dietary patterns and Behaviors Supporting Hygiene and Health (PHBS) with the incidence of childhood diarrhea at Simo Hospital, Boyolali Regency. An analytical cross-sectional design was employed involving 96 children aged 5–11 years selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing maternal employment status, dietary patterns measured with the Child Feeding Questionnaire and PHBS indicators, complemented by a review of medical records to confirm diarrhea episodes. Bivariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between diarrhea incidence and maternal occupation (p = 0.002), dietary patterns (p = 0.013) and PHBS (p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that children of employed mothers had a higher likelihood of experiencing diarrhea (OR = 2.857). In addition, inappropriate dietary patterns (OR = 0.218) and poor PHBS (OR = 0.234) were significantly associated with increased diarrhea risk. These findings suggest that inadequate feeding practices and suboptimal hygiene behaviors contribute substantially to the occurrence of diarrhea among school-aged children. In conclusion, maternal employment status, child nutrition and hygiene-related behaviors are significantly associated with childhood diarrhea. The results highlight the importance of strengthening household-based health promotion programs focusing on appropriate feeding practices, improved hygiene behaviors and caregiver support strategies to reduce the burden of diarrhea in children.
Keywords: Diarrhea, Dietary Patterns, Maternal Employment, PHBS.