Abstract:
Background: Childhood Pneumonia is the commonest cause of suffering worldwide among
under- five children. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was estimated to account for more
than one million under five child deaths globally, 80 % of which occurred in children under
2 years of age group. It is the single leading cause of death in Ethiopia; accounting 20% of all
under five mortality burdens. Most of the victims were children less than two years old.
Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the determinant factors associated for
pneumonia morbidity in under two years old children in Tembaro woreda.
Methods: Institution based unmatched case control study was conducted from March 1 to March
30, 2019. Cases were children aged under two year, who were diagnosed with pneumonia
clinically .Controls were children aged under two year, who were diagnosed with no pneumonia
clinically. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from
consecutively selected 225 individuals (75 cases and 150 controls). Descriptive statistics, both
Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were done using SPSS version 23software,
after exported the data from EpiData version 3.1. Candidate variables with p-value < 0.25 during
bivariate analysis where included to multivariable logistic regression model. Finally, variables
with p-value < 0.05 were expressed as potential determinants of pneumonia. Model fitness
checked by Hosmer Lemeshow goodness fit.
Results: Maternal illiteracy (AOR=3.6,95% C.I (1.21-10.7)),Underweight(AOR=5.2,95% C.I(2.02-
13.27)),more than five family members(AOR=4.6,95% C.I (1.2-17.8)),more than two under five
children in the household (AOR=3.8,95% C.I(1.01-14.85)),history of upper respiratory tract
infection within last two weeks (AOR=12.3,95%C.I (4.45-23.96)),living in grass roofed house
(AOR=3.7,95% C.I (1.38-9.79)) were determinants of pneumonia among under two years old
children.
Conclusion: maternal illiteracy, contact or having upper respiratory tract infection, having acute
malnutrition, large family size and living grass roofed house were determinants for pneumonia in
under two years children. Therefore, health education regarding on housing and birth spacing,
improving child nutritional status, early control of upper respiratory tract infection and female
education are important in pneumonia prevention.
