Risk factors of acute respiratory infection among hospitalised children in Basrah: a case control study

ABSTRACT

A case control study was carried out to investigate the role of selected presumed risk factors in the occurrence of acute respiratory infection [ARI] among hospitalised children below the age of five years in Basrah, Iraq. Controls were children of similar age range attending for routine immunisation schedule. The main factors which ere found to be associated with significant risk of ARI were parental illiteracy, presence of a sibling with ARI during the month prior to admission of the child, admission of a sibling below the age of five years to hospital for ARI during the previous year, use of kerosene for cooking and mother's employment. Father's smoking, crowding and use of kerosene for heating were not found to be significantly associated with ARI among children