Abstract
Objective
To verify the association between the social determinants of health and the levels of self-efficacy of mothers or caregivers to prevent childhood diarrhea.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 363 mothers or caregivers of children under five years old, followed up in a Primary Health Care unit. For data collection, the sociodemographic characterization form and the Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Prevention of Infantile diarrhea. The Chi-Square test was performed, and as a measure of association, odds ratio.
Results
It was found that mothers or caregivers aged 15 to 29 years were 1.6 times more likely to have moderate self-efficacy, with statistical significance for the individual determinant “age group” (p=0.017). Participants with inadequate intermediate determinants “waste destination” and “home water source” were 3.5 and 2.8 times more likely to have moderate self-efficacy, respectively.
Conclusion
The social determinant of health “age group” increases the chance of mothers or caregivers showing moderate self-efficacy to prevent childhood diarrhea. Therefore, nurses should place a greater emphasis on guiding mothers or caregivers, especially younger ones, on the prevention of diarrhea and carrying out educational actions aimed at increasing their self-efficacy.
Diarrhea, infantile; Social determinants of health; Self efficacy; Health promotion; Disease prevention