Peer-reviewed article
Mapping paediatric acute gastroenteritis in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines: a cross-sectional study on prevalence and community risk factors.
Alejandro GS, Suzuki T, Chigusa Y, Salazar CR, Yasuoka J ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study mapped the prevalence and geographic distribution of acute gastroenteritis in children aged 0-17 years across Talavera municipality in the Philippines during 2023. Cases ranged from 1.74 to 22.34 per 1000 children, with significant geographic clustering in southwestern areas. Community-level poverty, population density, and distance to healthcare were identified as risk factors that varied by location. The findings suggest that geographically targeted interventions addressing poverty, density, and healthcare access could reduce the burden of this disease.
Key points
- 398 paediatric acute gastroenteritis cases were identified, mostly in males under 5 years old
- Prevalence varied substantially by location (1.74 to 22.34 cases per 1000 children) with significant geographic clustering
- High-risk clusters were found in southwestern barangays and low-risk clusters in the north
- Household income below poverty line and population density showed positive associations with AGE prevalence in specific barangays
- Distance to hospital showed a protective effect across the municipality, suggesting under-reporting in remote areas
Limitations
The study only examined data from one hospital in a single municipality during one year, so findings may not generalize to other regions. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causation or track disease trends over time.
Abstract
Aim To map the prevalence of paediatric acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines and to examine how community-level risk factors shape its spatial distribution. Methods We conducted a single-centre cross-sectional study with spatial analysis at Talavera General Hospital in 2023. Children aged 0-17 years diagnosed with AGE were included. Barangay-level prevalence was mapped, and spatial autocorrelation was assessed using Moran's I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were used to evaluate associations between community risk factors and AGE prevalence. Results A total of 398 paediatric AGE cases were included, mainly among male children under 5 years of age. Paediatric AGE prevalence ranged from 1.74 to 22.34 cases per 1000 children, with clear geographic variability. Significant spatial clustering was observed (Moran's I=0.268, p=0.001), with high-risk clusters in southwestern barangays and low-risk clusters in the north. GWR outperformed OLS and revealed localised associations: household income below the poverty line (25 barangays) and population density (13 barangays) showed positive effects, while distance to the hospital showed a negative association across the municipality (t-values: -2.11 to -3.35). Conclusion This study demonstrates significant spatial heterogeneity in the paediatric AGE burden in Talavera, with distinct high-risk clusters and spatially varying associations. The findings support geographically targeted interventions addressing local poverty and population density as well as strengthening access to healthcare in remote areas to improve case detection and reduce under-reporting.