RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Investigating the correlation between socio-demographic conditions, health and maternal self-efficacy to prevent childhood diarrhoea. METHODS: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study which was conducted in Fortaleza, in north-eastern Brazil; it involved 448 mothers of children aged less than 5 years-old. Data was collected through interviews held in the family healthcare centres using an in-house maternal self-efficacy for childhood diarrhoea prevention scale and a form for collecting information about the mothers' socio-demographic profile. RESULTS: The self-sufficiency/effectiveness in preventing diarrhoea during childhood interview data revealed a statistically significant association with maternal age (p=0.018), per capita income (p=0.023), type of housing (p=0.032), garbage disposal from the dwelling (p=0.000), origin of the water drunk by the children (p=0.002), type of sanitary installation (p=0.001) and its location (p=0.023), type of drainage (p=0.046) and the resources used by the mothers regarding their personal hygiene (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare staff should advance strategies for improving self-sufficiency/effectiveness regarding maternal care for children, especially regarding preventative measures concerning diarrhoea during childhood.