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Prevalence of Pneumonia and Its Associated Factors Among Children Under Five Years in Eastern Uganda: A
John Michael Okusa1, Safina Akello1, James Kateregga1
1Department of Nursing, Soroti University, Soroti City, Uganda.
Insights
Pneumonia affects 25.2% of children under five in Eastern Uganda. Key risk factors include malnutrition, poor housing, and limited access to healthcare, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in children under five globally and in Uganda.
- Previous studies on pneumonia risk factors in Uganda have yielded inconsistent findings.
- This study addresses the need for updated data on pneumonia prevalence and associated factors in Eastern Uganda.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of pneumonia in children under five in Eastern Uganda.
- To identify socio-demographic, socioeconomic, child-related, and facility-related factors associated with childhood pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- A hospital-based descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 385 children aged 2-59 months.
- Pneumonia diagnosis followed World Health Organization (WHO) 2014 guidelines and Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) classification.
- Data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires, and logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of pneumonia was 25.2% (95% CI: 19.1-31.2%).
- Significant associated factors included grass roofing material (AOR: 4.658), malnutrition (AOR: 15.749), non-exclusive breastfeeding (AOR: 3.588), lack of vitamin A supplementation (AOR: 12.624), and distance >5 km from a health facility (AOR: 6.160).
Conclusions:
- Childhood pneumonia prevalence in Eastern Uganda is high, exceeding global targets.
- Malnutrition, suboptimal infant feeding, inadequate preventive care, and healthcare access barriers are key determinants.
- Integrated interventions addressing nutrition, feeding practices, preventive care, and healthcare access are crucial.
Background:
Pneumonia remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five, accounting for 740,180 deaths globally and 14% of all under-five deaths. In Uganda, it is the second leading cause of mortality in this age group. Despite several studies on pneumonia risk factors, findings have been inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of pneumonia in children under five in Eastern Uganda.
Methods:
A hospital-based descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 children aged 2 to 59 months admitted to the pediatric ward. Pneumonia diagnosis followed the 2014 WHO guidelines and the Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) classification. Data on socio-demographic, socioeconomic, child-related, and facility-related factors were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics determined prevalence, while logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 27 assessed factors associated with pneumonia.
Results:
The study found that the prevalence of pneumonia among children under five was 25.2% (95% CI: 19.1-31.2%). The factors which were found to be associated with pneumonia include; use of grass as roofing material for the house (AOR: 4.658, P-value=0.016), child being malnourished (AOR: 15.749, P-value<0.001), child not exclusively breastfed (AOR: 3.588, P-value= 0.044), child not having received vitamin A supplementation (AOR: 12.624, P-value=0.021), and staying beyond 5 km from the nearest health facility (AOR: 6.160, P-value= 0.011).
Conclusion:
This study found a high prevalence of pneumonia among children under five in Eastern Uganda, significantly exceeding the global target of 2.5%. The factors which were found to be associated with pneumonia included, being from household using grass as roofing material, malnutrition, nonexclusively breastfed, lack of vitamin A supplementation, staying a distance of more than 5 km from nearest health facility. These findings underpin a need for integrated community and policy-level interventions that improve child nutrition, promote optimal infant feeding practices, enhance preventive care, and strengthen access to healthcare services, while addressing underlying socioeconomic and environmental determinants.
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