Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: July | Volume: 8 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 9-17
A Cross-Sectional Study for Assessment of Factors Related to Acute Respiratory Infection in Pre-School Children in an Urban Slum
Dr. Yuvaraj B Chavan1, Dr. Harshal Kshirsagar2, Dr. Ganesh Narwane3, Dr. Rajesh Katre4
1Associate Professor, 2Senior Resident, 3Assistant Professor, 4Junior Resident,
Department of Community Medicine, Seth GSMC & KEMH, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012
Corresponding Author: Dr. Harshal Kshirsagar
ABSTRACT
Background: Acute respiratory infection is a major public health problem particularly in developing countries like India where most of people belong to poor economic strata and reside in slums and are exposed to fatal illnesses. Under-five children are particularly vulnerable to this Sort of infections and it has posed a great economic burden to the developing world particularly in the urban slums.
Objectives: To assess prevalence of acute respiratory infections amongst children in an urban slum; sociodemographic profile of study population & assess health seeking behaviour of parents for these morbidities.
Materials & Methods: It was a Cross-sectional study carried out in 256 under-five children which was conducted in vulnerable urban slum in UHC field practice area of tertiary care hospital for 12 months duration.
Results and Discussion: The overall prevalence of ARI was found to be 30.4%. Children in age group of 1-3 years were most commonly affected with ARI (57.1%). In social class IV & V, prevalence of ARI was highest with 40.70 %. There was a significant association between immunization status, birth weight, family composition, malnutrition status and Occurrence of ARI in under-five children.
Conclusion: The present study found poor birth weight, low socio economic class, delay in initiation of breast feeding, pre-lacteal feeding, and immunization status as significant risk factors for ARI in under-fives.
Key words: Acute respiratory infection (ARI), Urban Slum, Cross sectional study, under five children