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Acute lower respiratory illness in under-five children in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: prevalence and

Silvio O M Prietsch1, Gilberto B Fischer, Juraci A César

  • 1Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rua Dr. Nascimento 396, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. silvio@brturbo.com.br

Cadernos De Saude Publica
|June 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Acute lower respiratory illness affects 23.9% of children under five in Rio Grande, Brazil. Key risk factors include crowding, low income, and maternal smoking, while maternal age over 30 is protective.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Acute lower respiratory illness (ALRI) is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally.
  • Identifying local risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of ALRI in children under five in Rio Grande, Brazil.
  • To identify associated risk and protective factors for ALRI in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional survey with standardized household questionnaires.
  • Data collected on household, socioeconomic, parental, and child health factors.
  • Prevalence ratios and logistic regression used for data analysis.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of ALRI was 23.9% among 771 children studied.
  • Significant risk factors included prior respiratory infections, crowding, low maternal education/income, and maternal smoking.
  • Maternal age of 30 years or older was a protective factor.

Conclusions:

  • Specific socioeconomic and environmental factors are associated with ALRI in young children in Rio Grande.
  • Findings can inform public health interventions to reduce childhood respiratory illness burden.

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