Severe pneumonia: Treatment outcome and its determinant factors among under-five patients, Jimma, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Over 2 million children die from pneumonia each year accounting for almost one in five children's deaths worldwide which is estimated to be 18% of mortality cases. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess treatment outcome and its determinant factors among under-five patients, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Methods: Study design was conducted on 522 under-five children with severe pneumonia from 1 January 2017 to 30 December 2020. Pretested chart review format was used to collect data. Data were entered into EpiData, version 3.1, and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 23, for analysis. Logistic regression analysis with 95% confidence interval was used to declare statistical significance at p value <0.05.

Results: Among 522 under-five children with severe pneumonia, majority (83.91%) of them were improved, whereas 1 over 6 (16.09%) of them were died. This finding showed that children who have malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio = 7.23 (3.17-14.51), p = 0.000), positive serostatus for HIV (adjusted odds ratio = 5.01 (1.91-12.13), p = 0.001), history of upper respiratory tract infections (adjusted odds ratio = 3.27 (1.55-6.91), p = 0.002), unvaccinated (adjusted odds ratio = 4.35 (1.60-11.79), p = 0.004), having complicated types of pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio = 8.48 (4.22-16.65), p < 0.001), and comorbidity disease (adjusted odds ratio = 5.21 (2.03-13.3), p < 0.001) were statistically significant with mortality.

Conclusion: This study showed that mortality secondary to severe pneumonia was high. Being malnourished, positive serostatus for HIV infection, history of upper respiratory tract infections, unvaccinated, having complicated type of pneumonia, and other comorbidity disease were identified as determinant factors of mortality. Committed, harmonized, and integrated intervention needs to be taken to reduce mortality from severe pneumonia by enhancing child's nutrition status, early detection and treatment, effectively vaccinating children, and preventing other comorbidity diseases.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Pneumonia; child; mortality; outcome; treatment.