Determinants of under-five pneumonia among children visited in nine public health Hospitals in Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundPneumonia is a top serious problem for under-five children. Although pneumonia affects children worldwide, the disease's risk and consequences are more widespread in low- and middle-income countries. ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify predictors of childhood pneumonia among children who visited public Hospitals located in West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. MethodsA case–control study was conducted among 375 (125 cases and 250 controls) to identify predictors of childhood pneumonia among children who visited in nine public health Hospitals from May to July 2022. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in a multivariable logistic regression were declared statistically significant. ResultsAmong respondents 42.1% were males and 57.9% were females. Factors such as using water without soap for hand washing before child feeding [AOR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.59–6.00] and house near the street [AOR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.54–5.37] were found to be the determinant of under-five pneumonia. Similarly, animal dung as a source of fuel [AOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.06–4.79], Child care given by the house worker or home maid [AOR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.59–7.05], and having acute respiratory tract infection in the last two weeks [AOR: 6.46, 95% CI: 3.32–12.56] were significantly associated with under-five pneumonia. ConclusionsHand washing with soap before child feeding, cooking with animal manure, and a history of acute respiratory tract infection in the previous two weeks were found as risk factors for childhood pneumonia.