Decreased Numbers of Hospitalization and Frequency of Diarrhoea Episodes in Immunized Children Compared with Non-Immunized Children in Diwaniyah City

Abstract

Background: In Iraq and other underdeveloped nations, diarrhoea is a primary cause of child morbidity and hospitalization. The rotavirus vaccine is used to minimize diarrhoeal illnesses in young children. Objective: To compare the number of hospitalizations and frequency of diarrhoea episodes between immunized and non-immunized children in Diwaniyah city, Iraq. Methods: The Children and Maternal Teaching Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah conducted a January 2024–December 2025 retrospective cohort analysis of the 400 children aged 6-24 months recruited; 200 were fully rotavirus-vaccinated, and 200 were not. Medical records and mother interviews provided hospitalization and diarrhoea data. Results: Immunized children showed significantly lower hospitalization rates (12.5%) compared to non-immunized children (38.0%) (p<0.001). The mean frequency of diarrhoea episodes was 1.8 ± 0.9 in the immunized group versus 4.2 ± 1.6 in the non-immunized group (p<0.001), representing a 57% reduction in diarrhoea episodes among vaccinated children. Conclusion: Hospitalization and diarrhoea episodes in children are dramatically reduced by rotavirus vaccination. Reducing diarrhoeal illnesses in Diwaniyah requires improving immunization efforts.