Environmental risk factors for acute respiratory infections among children of military personnel in Uganda

ABSTRACT

A Community-based; cross-sectional survey was done in five Army Camps in the Central Areas of Uganda to explore relationships between environmental household conditions and the presence or absence of acute respiratory infections. A total sample of 122 homes with 152 children of both sexes were studied. Each child was medically examined and diagnosis recorded. A check - list was filled out for each household that had at least one child aged 5 years or less; the list recorded conditions of crowding; roofing materials; house ventilation; cooking fuels and cooking place; family income and immunization status. Cross-tabulation tables were prepared and Chi-square values calculated for the various forms of ARI and environmental characteristics. Significance level was put at 5(p=0.05). Using standard tables; significant associations were found between ARI diagnosed at the examination of a child and the following number of persons per house (p