The study of acute respiratory infection and its contributing factors among toddlers in Seremban. 1994

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and its contributing factors among toddlers at the maternal and child health clinic of Seremban on 15th December 1993. A total of 256 toddlers were systematically selected l following their attendance for the child health clinic. Interviews were carried out by trained interviewers with the use of questionnaires among the parents of the selected toddlers regarding ARI and its contributing factors in ~ their child for the month of October and November 1993. The prevalence of ARI from this sample is 59.4% with mean frequency of infections of 1.8 times and mean duration of infection of 4.6 days. The presences of cigarette smoker at home, habit of smoking inside the house, amount smoke per day at home, overcrowding, lack of practice of vitamin supplementation contributed to increase prevalence of ARI significantly with p<0.05. The frequency of ARI also increases among toddlers in the 4 years age group and those staying in the village type house (p<0.05) .It was also noted that the duration of ARI was significantly longer in the 4 years old, toddlers who stayed away from their own house for a longer period and those who live in overcrowded houses.