THE INCIDENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD IN THE RURAL VU BAN DISTRICT, NAM DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed at determining the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and the associated risk factors in children under 5 years old in the rural Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh Province, Vietnam.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted on 389 children under five years old from September 2020 to September 2021 in the rural Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province, Vietnam. Participants were enrolled by a simple random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect clinical, socio-demographic and maternal data. Diagnosis of ARI was based on the revised WHO guidelines and the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) classification for children with cough or difficulty breathing. The data was analysed using the statistical software SPSS 25.0.

Results: The proportion of ARI in children under 5 years old was 47% (183/389), while lower respiration tract infection was 11.8% (46/389). Risk factors associated with ARI were: history of ARI with an adjusted relative risk ratio of 0.2 (95% CI: 0.1-0.3); p< 0.001; age group with an adjusted relative risk ratio of 0.5 (95%CI: 0.3-0.8); p = 0.003, educational level of mothers with an adjusted relative risk ratio of 0.55 (95% CI: 0.36-0.86); p= 0.008, receiving counselling information of mothers with OR= 3.0; 95%CI= 1.9-4.7; p< 0.001. Gender, immunization status, breastfeeding, weaning time, birth weight, classification of BMI, mothers’ age, mothers’ occupation, having the first children were not significantly associated with ARI.

Conclusion: The proportion of ARI was high and associated with medical history, age group of children, educational level, receiving counselling information of mothers.