Sociodemographic and Environmental Factors Influencing Acute Respiratory Infections among Under-five Children of Chars (riverine islands) of Tinsukia District, Assam: A Community-based Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in under?five children worldwide. Assam has around 2500 river islands (locally called Chars/Chaporis) in the Brahmaputra River with socioeconomically deprived inhabitants lacking access to basic health?care facilities. A community?based cross?sectional study was carried out among 380 under?five children living in the Char areas of Tinsukia District to estimate the prevalence of ARI and determine the associated risk factors. The prevalence of ARI among under?five children was found to be 56.32%. Prevalence was significantly higher among children living in Dibru?Saikhowa island, with families having >2 children, belonging to socioeconomic class 5 (modified BG Prasad scale), having a positive history of smoking or ARI in family members, having homes with attached kitchens or using wood for cooking, inadequate ventilation or overcrowding and residences of katcha ghars.