An Epidemiological Study of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections among Under Five Children Attending Urban Health Centre of a Medical College

Introduction: In India, an estimated 26 millions of children are born every year.¹ As per Census 2011, the share of children (0-6 years) accounts 13% of the total population in the Country. An estimated 12.7 lakh children die every year before completing 5 years of age.¹ 15% of the mortality in them is due to Acute respiratory Infections (ARI). The occurrence of ARI is related to various risk factors in the child and in the environment. Many of these risk factors are amenable to corrective measures.²

Therefore, the present study undertook to identify the prevalence and various risk factors for acute respiratory tract infection in under-five children.

Objectives:

1. To study the prevalence of ARI in under five children.

2. To study the risk factors associated with ARI.

Method: A cross sectional facility based study in Urban health centre of Deccan college of Medical Sciences. All under five children attending health centre during the study period of 6 months (November 2017–April 2017)

Results: The present study showed 56% of ARI prevalence .

Majority (55.3%) of study subjects were females. More number of subjects(35.5%) belongs to 0-12 month age group. Least number of children belongs to 49-60 months age group. Majority (41.8%) of study population belongs to SES-III (according to Kuppuswamy classification). Only (47.7%) of the subjects were fully immunized.

The present study revealed that there is statistically significant association between age, type of family, socioeconomic status, Mothers education, Vitamin-A supplementation, Over-crowding, presence of separate kitchen and Family h/o parental smoking p=<0.05 with occurrence of ARI .

Conclusions: The present study found that age of the child, type of family, socioeconomic status, Mothers education, Vitamin-A supplementation, Over-crowding, presence of separate kitchen and Family h/o parental smoking were the significant risk factors responsible for ARI in under-five children.