Association between acute respiratory infections and house conditions and other factors among children under five years of age in gaziantep binevler health center region

Abstract

Purpose: This study is aimed at estimating the frequency of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among children as well as investigating its relationship with house conditions and other factors. Methods: The research was carried out over 12-month period in Binevler Health Center, Gaziantep, Turkey it has two sections (cross-sectional and prospective cohort). Five health stations were selected by using sampling technique with probability proportional to size, all houses with children under 5 years of age were visited. A questionnaire on acute respiratory infections, house conditions, socioeconomic status of the family and individual status of the children was applied to the mothers by doctors. Total volume of the rooms and total size of the windows were measured in each house. Three composite indexes including house conditions, socioeconomic status of the family and individual status of the children were prepared and a classification was made as good, mild and poor in order to evaluate the results of the study better. Daily recordings of acute respiratory infection symptoms of children were made by the parents, and these records were collected by doctors every month for one year. Results: The annual mean of the ARIs was found to be 5.61 per child per year (median:5). This mean was lower in children with good house conditions (4.63) and good individual status (4.86) than those of children with poor house conditions (6.22) and poor individual status (6.08). Person-month incidence rate of ARIs was found as 40.58% and case-month incidence rate of ARIs was found as 46.77%. Attributable fraction calculated for house conditions was 25.53 %. Attributable fraction calculated for individual status was 19.99 %. Conclucion: House conditions and individual status were determined as major factors affecting the ARI mean. If the house conditions get better 25 % of ARI episodes can be prevented. As the status of individual gets better 19 % of ARI episodes can be prevented.