PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITYACQUIRED PNEUMONIA AMONG UNDER-FIVES ADMITTED AT KIRYANDONGO GENERAL HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT

Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in children under five years. Many predisposing factors do exist and can be avoided to reduce its prevalence in Uganda, and Kiryandongo where data is scarce concerning this subject. Method: a descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study that involved a total of 220 under-fives admitted at Kiryandongo General Hospital that set out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with community-acquired pneumonia was conducted. Results: The prevalence of community-acquired pneumonia was 15.91% with child’s sex, immunization history, breastfeeding history and residence being found statistically significant whereas child’s age insignificant. Other factors were exposure to pollutants, exposure to cold, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS coinfection. Conclusion: The prevalence of pneumonia among under-fives admitted at Kiryandongo Hospital was high at 15.9i%. This calls for urgent intervention. Numerous factors were established as predisposing these children to pneumonia such as early weaning, less adherence to immunization schedule as well as exposure to pollutants and going to crowded places like markets. Avoidance of these factors as well as educating caretakers about pneumonia, importance of immunization completion and adherence to exclusive breastfeeding practices will go a long way in drastically reducing prevalence

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................i APPROVAL.......................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES ...............................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................................. vii OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS...................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................1 1.0. Background .................................................................................................................1 1.1. Problem statement...........................................................................................................2 1.2. Study objectives..............................................................................................................2 1.2.1. Broad Objective ...........................................................................................................2 1.2.2. Specific Objectives ......................................................................................................2 1.3. Research Questions.........................................................................................................3 1.4. Justification of the Study.................................................................................................3 1.5. Study Scope.....................................................................................................................4 1.5.1. Geographical Scope .....................................................................................................4 1.5.2. Content Scope ..............................................................................................................4 1.5.3. Time scope ...................................................................................................................4 1.6. Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................................4 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................6 2.0. Introduction.....................................................................................................................6 2.1. Prevalence of Pneumonia among the under-fives...........................................................6 2.2 Factors Associated with Community-Acquired Pneumonia among the Under-Fives.....7 2.3. Incidence, Morbidity and Mortality of Community-Acquired Pneumonia coexisting with HIV/AIDS......................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................10