eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2016-04-27 6 2 521 526 8658 article E. B. Anyanwu 4 C. O. Esume 1 B. Okperi 2 I. Onyesom 3 T. O. Mabiaku 4 Y. O. Mabiaku 3 Department of Family Medicine. Faculty of Clinical Medicine. Delta State University (Abraka). Department of Pharmacology and Theraupeutics. Faculty of Basic Medical Science. Delta State University (Abraka). Department of Paediatrics. Faculty of Clinical Medicine. Delta State University (Abraka). 3Department of surgery. Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Delta State University (Abraka). 5Department of Surgery. Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Delta State University (Abraka). Department of Surgery. Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Delta State University (Abraka). Diarrhea is a relatively common ailment in children. The causes are of various aetiology. The common causes are usually bacteria or viruses, with the occasional community-based belief and myths. Some common causes include rotavirus, Escherichia coli, shigella and salmonella. Our data show that childhood diarrhea are due to drinking bad water (38.46%), or from dangerous germs in food and drinks (32.69%), and from using dirty feeding utensils (25.00%). A group of respondents believe that the cause maybe due to angry spirits of the ancestors (3.85%). All the respondents agree that diarrhea cannot be transmitted by looking at a child suffering from diarrhea, and 73.68% of the respondents say that the sick child will need help only when he is noticeably weaker than usual. Only 15% of the respondents describe diarrhea as watery stool. And 74% say that they usually give antibiotics to their wards as preventive measure. Our findings suggest that most of our mothers are aware of the common causes of diarrhea diseases. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol6no2/identifying-the-causes-and-prevention-of-diarrhea-in-abraka-a-local-community-in-delta-state-nigeria/ Diarrhea; causes; prevention; Delta state; Nigeria