Risk Factors Associated to Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Children between 3 Months to 5 Years

Mukendra Kumar Sah, Pinki Kumari Sah, Manoj Gupta

Abstract: Background and Aim: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are one of the most common causes of illness in children and also major cause of death globally. Various socio-demographic, nutritional and environmental factors have been associated with ARTI. The objectives of this study were to identify the risk factors associated to Acute Respiratory tract infection in children between 3 months to 5 years. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at Birat Medical College, Biratnagar, Nepal. The total number of sample was 280. All diagnosed cases of ARTI as per WHO. A semi-structured Performa was used as a tool to identify associated risk factor in ARTI. Data were analyzed by using Chi-Square test and level of significance at p value <0.05. Results: Among the cases LRTI and URTI constituted 83.9% and 16.08% respectively. Among the cases male to female ratio was 1.8:1 and the proportion of infants was 51.8%. In socio-demographic analysis low level of maternal education, low socioeconomic status, presence of overcrowding and positive family history of RTI (P=.003) were identified as potential risk factor of ARTI. Nutritional variables, low birth weight, anemia, malnutrition (wasting), breastfeeding were significantly associated with ARTI. In environmental variables, wood as cooking material (p=.000) was identified as significant factor for ARTI.

Keywords: Acute respiratory tract infection, risk factor, under five