Prevalence and factors associated with acute respiratory infection among under-five children in selected tertiary hospitals of Kathmandu Valley.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is responsible for about 30-50 percent of visits to health facilities and for about 20-30 percent of admissions to hospitals in Nepal for children under 5 years old. Incidence of ARI in children among under-five years of age is 344 per 1000 in Nepal. Hence, the study aims to find out the prevalence and factors associated with acute respiratory infection among under-five children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital and International Friendship Children's Hospital (IFCH) in Kathmandu among children of age 2-59 months attending Pediatric OPD. A total of 286 children were selected using the non-probability (convenient) sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested semi-structured tool through interview schedule, and descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used. RESULTS: Out of 286 children, more than half of children (60.8%) had Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI). Nearly one-fifth of the children had severe or very severe pneumonia. Acute respiratory infection was significantly associated with religion followed by the family (p = 0.009, OR = 4.59 CI = 1.47-14.36), presence of the child in the kitchen while cooking (p = 0.001, OR = 2.03 CI = 1.17-3.51), and presence of respiratory tract infection in family (p = <0.001 OR = 2.83 CI = 1.59-5.05). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that male children are more susceptible to acute respiratory infection than female children. Parents and family members should be aware of the prevention of acute respiratory infection by addressing and minimizing the factors contributing to ARI.

Comparision of Quality of Life of Senior Citizens Residing in Old Age Homes and Own Residence.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life of elderly is becoming even more relevant with demographic shift happening towards an ageing society. With fast changing family condition and social contexts, lives of elderly people in Nepal have been changing dramatically. Old age homes have sprung up to cater to the needs of the elderly from different socio-economic backgrounds. The objective of this study is to compare the quality of life of senior citizens of selected old age homes and own residence and to find the association of quality of life with selected study variables. METHODS: A comparative study was conducted among 120 senior citizens from Dhankuta, Morang and Sunsari districts of Koshi zone. Two strata were formed based on their residence, i.e., old age homes and own residence. Equal proportion of the samples were selected from both the settings. Data was collected using interview schedule through pretested semi-structured and standard World Helth Organization, quality of life - old questionnaires. RESULTS: More than one fifth (23.33%) of research participants were from the age group 65-69 and 75-79 and more than half (55%) of them were female. More than half (58.33%) of the research participants residing in their own residence had high quality of life level, while among those residing in the old age homes, only about 40% had high quality of life level. Quality of life level was found to be significantly associated with sex and educational status of the research participants. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life was found to be better among the people residing in their own residence as compared to those residing in old age homes.