**2.1 Study design, area, and sample population**

It is a cross-sectional study conducted in two hospitals of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Paul VI and Schiphra), during August 2013 to October 2015 (**Figure 1**). The Paul VI hospital is located in peripheral area and the Schiphra's hospital in the city

*Beta-Lactamase-Producing Genes and Integrons in* Escherichia coli *from Diarrheal Children… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103169*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Sampling sites in Ouagadougou.*

center at the dam edge of Ouagadougou. Many patients from Ouagadougou and its surroundings attend these two healthcare centers because of the good level of healthcare. The study population comprised children below 5 years attending the hospital for treatment.

The specimens were collected adhering to a standard protocol from pediatric patients below 5 years of age with acute diarrhea and who were hospitalized or visited the health centers as outpatient. Thus, children who attended the hospitals for treatment and provided assent (from parents) or consent for the study were included in the study. Any child over the age of 5 years was excluded from the study.
