Acute respiratory infections and its associated risk factors among children aged 6-59 months in Ghana: a multinomial regression analysis of the 2022 demographic and health survey

Abstract

Background: Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) remain a critical health concern, particularly among children aged 6-59 months, where they are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Globally, ARIs significantly contribute to child mortality, accounting for nearly 15% of all deaths in children under 5 years of age.

Objective: To assess the risk factors associated with ARI severity among children aged 6-59 months in Ghana.

Research design: This study utilized data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), focusing on a weighted sample of 541 children aged 6-59 months who exhibited symptoms of ARI. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine maternal, household, and child-related predictors of ARI. A significant p-value was set at 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of ARI was 17.1% for chest problems only, 66.1% for nose breathing difficulties, and 16.8% for both nose and chest problems. Key predictors of ARI included coastal zone residency (aOR = 7.89; CI: 2.26-27.60), maternal illiteracy (aOR = 0.34; CI: 0.12-0.93), maternal ethnicity (Akan: aOR = 0.12; CI: 0.02-0.85), and age of household head (20-29 years: aOR = 59.08; CI: 3.04-1,150.14). Boys were more likely than girls to experience both nose and chest problems (aOR = 3.44; CI: 1.61-7.34), and younger children, particularly those under 12 months, were at higher risk of ARI (aOR = 21.04; CI: 3.34-132.64). Children who were not breastfeeding (aOR = 2.62; CI: 1.15-5.94) and had not suffer from diarrhea (aOR = 2.28; CI: 1.19-4.38) were more at risk of ARI.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant role of maternal education, household sanitation, and child-specific factors in influencing ARI risk among children in Ghana. Efforts to improve maternal education, enhance sanitation facilities, and implement targeted interventions for high-risk children are critical to reducing the burden of ARI in Ghana.

Keywords: Ghana; acute respiratory infections; child health; household predictors; maternal factors.