Identification of sociodemographic and risk factors contributing to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIS) among children: A community-based cross-sectional study

Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Several sociodemographic, environmental, and clinical factors contribute to the occurrence and recurrence of LRTIs in children. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the sociodemographic and risk factors associated with LRTI among children in Eraviperoor Grama Panchayat, Thiruvalla, Kerala. A total of 200 children below 18 years of age were included in the study through caregiver interviews using a structured questionnaire.
Among the 200 children included in the study, 134 children (67%) had a history of LRTI. Pneumonia was identified as the most common type of LRTI followed by bronchitis and bronchiolitis. Several important risk factors were identified including premature birth, low birth weight, caesarean delivery, passive smoking, overcrowding, poor vaccination status, exposure to pets, family history of respiratory diseases, and inadequate breastfeeding practices. Environmental exposure and poor hygiene practices were also significantly associated with recurrent respiratory infections in children.
The study highlights the strong association between sociodemographic characteristics and modifiable risk factors with LRTI occurrence in children. Early identification of these factors and implementation of targeted preventive strategies including vaccination awareness, smoking cessation, improved hygiene, breastfeeding promotion, and reduction of environmental exposure may significantly reduce the burden of LRTI in children.