Acute Respiratory Infections in Children under Five Years of Age and Associated Factors in Peru

Villalobos C.E.N.; Muñoz C.R.L.; Rojas R.E.; Vela-Ruiz J.M.; de la Cruz Vargas J.A. · Revista Cubana de Pediatria (2024)

Resumen

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections are the cause of death in 4.3 million children under five years of age, representing 30% of all annual deaths in this age group. Objective: To determine the maternal and child factors associated with acute respiratory infections in children under five years of age in Peru. Methods: An analytical, descriptive, observational and retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample included 8,366 children under five years of age, whose mothers satisfactorily responded to the National Demographic and Family Health Survey, published in 2021. Results: Adult mothers constituted a protective factor against acute respiratory infections (PR = 0.871 and CI = 0.761-0.998). On the other hand, teenage mothers were a risk factor (PR = 1.331 and CI = 1.057-1.677) and the prevalence increased, as did mothers who had only reached secondary school levels (PR = 1.326 and CI = 1.164-1.512) and primary (PR = 1.418 and CI = 1.197-1.681). The increase in cases also occurred in the jungle region (PR = 1.487 and CI = 1.255-1.762) and in male children (PR = 1.120 and CI = 1.008-1.245). Conclusions: A positive association was found between acute respiratory infections and adolescent mother factors, only with studies up to secondary and primary school, the jungle as the region of residence of the mother and child, and the male sex of the infant.

Instituciones: Universidad Ricardo Palma