Prevalence of Pneumonia and Its Determinants among Under-five Children attending a Primary Health Care Clinic in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The incorporation of Haemophilus influenza type b and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines to infant routine immunization programme in  Nigeria have been reported to reduce the frequency and severity of respiratory tract infections especially bacterial pneumonia. The aim of this study was  to assess the prevalence of pneumonia and its determinants among under-five children attending Primary Health Care (PHC) clinic in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Lagos State, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 330 under-ve children who presented to the  Festac PHC clinic. Data was collected using a pretested, structured and interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed using EPI INFO software  version 7.0. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the determinants of the development of pneumonia. The level of  statistically significant was set at p<0.05.

Results: Of the 330 children, the median age (IQR) was 24 (10-26) months and the majority 186 (56.4%) were males. The prevalence of pneumonia was 42  (12.7%). There was no significant association between the development of pneumonia and the immunization status of children under five years of age  (p=0.05). The odds of developing pneumonia was increased with prematurity [AOR=2.791, 95%CI (1.245 - 6.256), p=0.013].

Conclusion: About 1 in 8  under-five children in this study had pneumonia. Prematurity was the major determinant of pneumonia among under-five children. Health workers  should create more awareness and sensitize mothers as well as the community members on the risk factors that can predispose children to pneumonia.