Influence of household socioeconomic characteristics on the prevalence of acute respiratory infections among children in Nakuru town, Kenya.

Abstract

Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in children under 5 years has been attributed to exposure to polluted indoor air from biomass combustion. In Kenya, ARI accounted for 67% of outpatient morbidity cases in children under 5 years, while in Nakuru Town, it accounted for 41%. The cause has been attributed to indoor air pollution from biomass use. Clear studies have not been done in urban areas to show if indoor air pollution from energy sources is an influential factor. In urban areas, household socioeconomic characteristics such as education level, income level, number of household members, sources of energy and the indoor structural characteristics such as ventilation vary. This study determined the influence of energy sources and household socioeconomic characteristics on prevalence of ARI among children. An observation, cross-sectional survey was conducted on 187 randomly selected households, comprising low-income and middle-income strata. In low-income homes, education (p=0.028), presence of carpet (no carpet) (p=0.007), hours spent indoor (p=0.004) and outdoor (p=0.006) had a significant impact on ARI in children. In middle-income homes, neither energy sources nor indoor socioeconomic characteristics influenced ARI presence in children. Exposure to outdoor and indoor environment, education level of caretakers and lack of carpet in low-income areas in urban centers were influential factors on the prevalence of respiratory illnesses affecting children under 5 years.