Prevalence and associated factors of upper respiratory tract infections among under five children in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia

Background : Upper respiratory tract infection is a major public health problem worldwide. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and the main reason for utilization of health service among under five children. Upper respiratory infections are illnesses caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract including the nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx. The aim of this study conducted to determine factors that affect the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) among under five children. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess prevalence and associated factors of upper respiratory tract infections among under five children in Debre Berhan town. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study with multi-stage sampling technique was used to assess the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections and associated factors April, 2016. Data entry and cleaning were done using Epi Info version 3.5.4, and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using bivariate and multivariable analysis with binary logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of upper respiratory tract infection. Frequency, table and graphs were used for data presentation. Result: A total of 400 children were involved in this study with a response rate of 99.5% among 52.2% are male. From the 400 households (98%) of them have window and 57% of them good ventilation, 41.2% fair ventilation and remaining have bad ventilation. About 92.3% and 16% have separate kitchen from the main house and have domestic animal share the same room with human respectively. The prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection was 22.2%. Kitchen outside the main house AOR: 0.1, 95% CI (0.05,0.65), gas used as a source of fuel AOR: 2.5,95% CI (1.2,4.3), fully immunized children AOR:0.2, 95% CI (0.07,0.96), delivered at home AOR:4.9, 95% CI (2.2,10), children exclusively breast feed AOR:0.2, 95% CI (0.076,0.5) and bottle feeding AOR:3.9, 95% CI (2.2,7) was found associative factors for upper respiratory tract infection. Conclusion and Recommendation : the results of this study found high URTI among under-fives in the study area. The associated factors are place of kitchen, kind fuel used, immunization status, exclusive breast feeding, bottle feeding and place of delivery. Introducing improved stove to house hold may reduce upper respiratory tract infection. Health education should be given for children’s of mother about bottle feeding and exclusive breast feeding are also should be implanted.