Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

There are marked differences in the way children’s stools are disposed of, according to
background characteristics. For example, older children are more likely than younger children to have
their stools disposed of safely. As expected, children in urban areas and children living in households
with an improved toilet facility are more likely to have safe disposal of their stools than children in
rural areas and in households without such facilities. By region, the proportion of children whose
stools are disposed of safely ranges from 8 percent in Ainaro and Manufahi to 48 percent in Dili.
Surprisingly, although a high percentage of children’s stools are not disposed of safely in Ainaro, it
had the lowest prevalence of diarrhea among children under age 5 in the two weeks preceding the
survey (4 percent). Safe disposal of children’s stools increases with mother’s level of education and
household wealth quintile.
Child Health | 145