PREVALENCE AND SOCIOECONOMIC CORRELATES OF STREPTOCOCCAL TONSILLOPHARYNGITIS IN CHILDREN 5-15 YEARS IN TRANSITIONAL ALBANIA

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of Group A Beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) tonsillopharyngitis in Vlora, which constitutes the biggest region in south Albania. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Vlora district during December 2013 – February 2014. A representative sample of 312 children aged 5-15 years was included (56% girls, 44% boys; overall response rate: 89%). Identification of GABHS was done through isolation of the microorganism by throat cultures. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the association of positive cultures with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the children. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of GABHS in this study population was 20.2% (N=63). There was evidence of a positive association of GABHS with male gender (OR=1.66, 95%CI=0.95-2.90), a lower educational attainment of mothers of the children (OR=6.81, 95%CI=3.74-12.38), and unemployment of the fathers of the children (OR=2.91, 95%CI=1.62-5.23). CONCLUSION: Our study provides novel evidence about the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of GABHS carriers in the general population of children aged 5-15 years in a major district of transitional Albania. Keywords: Albania, GABHS, incidence, streptococcus, Vlora. Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}