Page et al. BMC Public Health 2011, 11:389 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/389 Table 1 Demographic characteristics of households included in the survey Aguie Guidan Roumdji Maradi CU Madarounfa Total population Number of households/respondents Number of children under 5 yo Number (%) of households with 1 to 2 children < 5 yo 3 to 5 children < 5 yo more than 5 children < 5 yo Number (%) of respondents with 0 years of education 1 to 6 years of education more than 6 years of education Selected population Selected children Sex ratio M/F Age median (month) (IQR) < 1 year (%) 1 - 2 years (%) 2 - 3 years (%) 3 - 4 years (%) 4 - 5 years (%) Maradi Region, Niger, May 2009 735 1550 535 (72.8) 192 (26.1) 8 (1.1) 680 (92.5) 35 (4.8) 20 (2.7) 735 0.96 23 (12-35) 214 (29.1) 202 (27.5) 163 (22.2) 106 (14.4) 49 (6.7) 735 2011 463 (63.0) 211 (28.7) 61 (8.3) 669 (91.0) 38 (5.2) 28 (3.8) 735 0.94 23 (13-35) 175 (23.9) 212 (29.0) 185 (25.3) 110 (15.1) 49 (6.7) 735 1736 492 (66.9) 209 (28.5) 34 (4.6) 534 (72.7) 72 (9.8) 129 (17.6) 735 1.03 23 (12-36) 184 (25.2) 203 (27.8) 169 (23.2) 104 (14.2) 70 (9.6) 735 1644 518 (70.5) 200 (27.3) 17 (2.3) 665 (90.5) 39 (5.3) 31 (4/2) 735 1.15 25 (14-38) 153 (20.9) 201 (27.5) 186 (25.4) 117 (16.0) 75 (10.2) Page 4 of 7 Total 2940 6941 2008 (68.3) 812 (27.7) 120 (4.1) 2548 (86.7) 184 (6.3) 208 (7.1) 2940 1.01 24 (13-36) 726 (24.8) 818 (28.0) 703 (24.0) 437 (14.9) 243 (8.3) The main reasons for non-consultation were sponta- neous recovery and self-medication, mostly sought from roadside vendors (Table 4). Financial problems were cited in approximately 10% of respondents. Treatment and Hospitalization Among all patients who sought medical consultation, 80.4% (95%CI: 76.8-84.1) received oral rehydration solution and 6.1% (95%CI: 3.1-8.7) received intravenous rehydration. Over half of the severe cases (53.3%; 95% CI: 43.2-63.5) received intravenous rehydration. In total, 50 children with diarrhea were hospitalized (or under observation) for at least one night, represent- ing 8.2% of all diarrhea cases (95%CI: 5.3-11.1). The median duration of hospitalization was 2 nights (IQR: 1- 5). Of these, 25 met the definition of severe diarrhea, Table 2 Prevalence of diarrhea cases and severe cases by district, by age and overall in children under 5 years of age All diarrhea cases Severe cases n %* 95% CI deff n %* 95% CI Total (N = 2940) 1066 36.8 [33.7-40.0] 3.2 98 3.4 [2.2-4.6] By district Aguie (N = 735) 250 34.0 [28.2-39.8] 2.9 15 1.5 [0.6-2.5] Guidan Roumdji (N = 735) 273 40.1 [33.1-47.1] 5.2 28 5.3 [2.2-8.5] Maradi CU (N = 735) 219 32.0 [27.4-36.7] 2.0 14 1.8 [0.7-2.9] Madarounfa (N = 735) 324 44.2 [38.7-49.6] 1.2 41 5.5 [3.2-7.8] By age (months) 0-2 (N = 100) 19 16.6 [8.1-25.0] 1.3 1 1.5 [0.0-4.4] 3-5 (N = 160) 49 35.0 [22.8-47.1] 3.0 4 3.8 [0.0-9.1] 6-11 (N = 382) 202 54.2 [48.0-60.5] 1.7 17 4.0 [0.2-6.1] 12-17 (N = 206) 203 52.1 [45.8-58.3] 1.7 18 4.0 [0.9-7.0] 18-23 (N = 153) 150 37.3 [30.3-44.3] 2.0 9 1.3 [0.3-2.3] 24-59 (N = 1492) 443 28.8 [25.2-32.3] 2.3 49 3.7 [2.2-5.1] Maradi Region, April 24th- May 21st 2009 * Weighted proportions (see methods)