Determinants of pneumonia among under two years children in tembaro woreda, south Ethiopia: case control study

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.