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. 2020 Jul 20:36:197.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.197.18799. eCollection 2020.

Trends and factors associated with acute respiratory infection among under five children in Zambia: evidence from Zambia's demographic and health surveys (1996-2014)

Nelia Langa Mulambya  1   2   3 , Francis Hamaimbo Nanzaluka  1   2   4 , Ntazana Nana Sinyangwe  2 , Mpundu Makasa  2
Affiliations

Trends and factors associated with acute respiratory infection among under five children in Zambia: evidence from Zambia's demographic and health surveys (1996-2014)

Nelia Langa Mulambya et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five years globally accounting for 16% of deaths. In Zambia, ARI accounts for 30-40% of children's outpatient attendance and 20-30% of hospital admissions. We assessed trends and factors associated with ARI among under-five children in Zambia from 1996 to 2014.

Methods: we analysed the Zambia demographic and health survey data for 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2014 of under five children and their mothers. We extracted data using a data extraction tool from the women's file. We analysed trends using chi square for trends. We conducted a complex survey multivariable logistic regression analysis, reported adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-values.

Results: we included a total of 6,854 and 2,389 (8%) had symptoms consistent with ARI. A 2% upward trend was noted between the 1996 and 2002 surveys but a sharp decline of 10% occurred in 2007. The chi2 trend test was significant p < 0.001. Children whose mothers had secondary or higher education were less likely to have ARI (AOR 0.30 95% CI 0.15-0.58) compared to those with no education. Underweight children had 1.50 times increased odds of having ARI (AOR 1.50 95% CI 1.25 - 1.68) compared with children who were not. Use of biomass fuels such as charcoal (AOR 2.67 95% CI 2.09 - 3.42) and wood (2.79 95% CI 2.45 -3.19) were associated with high odds for ARI compared to electricity.

Conclusion: the prevalence of ARI has declined in Zambia from 1996 to 2014. Factors associated with occurrence of ARI included being a child under one year, underweight, use of biomass fuel such as charcoal and wood. Interventions to reduce the burden of ARI should be targeted at scaling up nutrition programs, as well as promoting use of cleaner fuels.

Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; Zambia; children; under-five underweight trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ARI trends among under five children in Zambia 1996-2014
Figure 2
Figure 2
ARI trends among under five children by urban rural residence in Zambia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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