Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study

Abstract Background Food insecurity is a growing public health problem, particularly in conflict-affected areas where households face multiple challenges that restrict their accessibility to food and other necessities. It can result in serious health issues and increased mortality, especially among...

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Main Authors: Mansour Abdu Al-Taj, Rawan Essam AlKhulidy, Shatha Saif Alomary, Elham Abdullah Hablh, Abdulwahed Sanad, Kadija Thabet Yahya, Naseem Abdulghani Al-Gounaid, Mona Abdulghani Al-Gounaid, Eman Ahmed Badr, Sadiq Abbass Sadiq, Ali Ammar Aldoori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05880-6
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author Mansour Abdu Al-Taj
Rawan Essam AlKhulidy
Shatha Saif Alomary
Elham Abdullah Hablh
Abdulwahed Sanad
Kadija Thabet Yahya
Naseem Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Mona Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Eman Ahmed Badr
Sadiq Abbass Sadiq
Ali Ammar Aldoori
author_facet Mansour Abdu Al-Taj
Rawan Essam AlKhulidy
Shatha Saif Alomary
Elham Abdullah Hablh
Abdulwahed Sanad
Kadija Thabet Yahya
Naseem Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Mona Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Eman Ahmed Badr
Sadiq Abbass Sadiq
Ali Ammar Aldoori
author_sort Mansour Abdu Al-Taj
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Food insecurity is a growing public health problem, particularly in conflict-affected areas where households face multiple challenges that restrict their accessibility to food and other necessities. It can result in serious health issues and increased mortality, especially among vulnerable groups such as children. Objective This study aims to assess the effect of household food insecurity on the development of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among children aged 6–23 months and determine the other factors associated with ARI in this age group. Methods A matched case-control study was carried out in three public hospitals in Sana’a city between March and May 2022. A total of 151 children presented to the three hospitals diagnosed with ARI (cases) and 302 children who presented to the same hospitals with non-ARI diagnoses were included in the study and matched by sex and age ± two months. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Results Among cases, 63.6% (96/151) of households were food insecure compared to 40.7% (123/302) of the controls. Household food insecurity was a strong predictor of ARI in children (AOR 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.70; p = 0.017). Children living in rented accommodation (AOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.40–3.74; p < 0.001) and those with relatives who smoked (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17–2.90; p = 0.008) had a higher likelihood of having ARIs compared to those in non-rented dwellings and where no relatives smoked, respectively. Parental characteristics, source of water, and source of cooking fuel were not associated with ARI. Conclusion To reduce the burden of ARI among young children, it is important to prioritize the design and implementation of multi-sectoral community interventions. These interventions should include the initiation of income-generating programs aimed at alleviating household food insecurity, as well as health education campaigns to raise community awareness about the health risks associated with smoking.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2431
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series BMC Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-dd5498e874fa4271b158eae06995ec612025-08-20T03:45:36ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-07-012511910.1186/s12887-025-05880-6Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control studyMansour Abdu Al-Taj0Rawan Essam AlKhulidy1Shatha Saif Alomary2Elham Abdullah Hablh3Abdulwahed Sanad4Kadija Thabet Yahya5Naseem Abdulghani Al-Gounaid6Mona Abdulghani Al-Gounaid7Eman Ahmed Badr8Sadiq Abbass Sadiq9Ali Ammar Aldoori10Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a UniversityAbstract Background Food insecurity is a growing public health problem, particularly in conflict-affected areas where households face multiple challenges that restrict their accessibility to food and other necessities. It can result in serious health issues and increased mortality, especially among vulnerable groups such as children. Objective This study aims to assess the effect of household food insecurity on the development of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among children aged 6–23 months and determine the other factors associated with ARI in this age group. Methods A matched case-control study was carried out in three public hospitals in Sana’a city between March and May 2022. A total of 151 children presented to the three hospitals diagnosed with ARI (cases) and 302 children who presented to the same hospitals with non-ARI diagnoses were included in the study and matched by sex and age ± two months. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Results Among cases, 63.6% (96/151) of households were food insecure compared to 40.7% (123/302) of the controls. Household food insecurity was a strong predictor of ARI in children (AOR 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.70; p = 0.017). Children living in rented accommodation (AOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.40–3.74; p < 0.001) and those with relatives who smoked (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17–2.90; p = 0.008) had a higher likelihood of having ARIs compared to those in non-rented dwellings and where no relatives smoked, respectively. Parental characteristics, source of water, and source of cooking fuel were not associated with ARI. Conclusion To reduce the burden of ARI among young children, it is important to prioritize the design and implementation of multi-sectoral community interventions. These interventions should include the initiation of income-generating programs aimed at alleviating household food insecurity, as well as health education campaigns to raise community awareness about the health risks associated with smoking.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05880-6Household food insecurityAcute respiratory infectionChildrenRisk factors
spellingShingle Mansour Abdu Al-Taj
Rawan Essam AlKhulidy
Shatha Saif Alomary
Elham Abdullah Hablh
Abdulwahed Sanad
Kadija Thabet Yahya
Naseem Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Mona Abdulghani Al-Gounaid
Eman Ahmed Badr
Sadiq Abbass Sadiq
Ali Ammar Aldoori
Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
BMC Pediatrics
Household food insecurity
Acute respiratory infection
Children
Risk factors
title Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
title_full Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
title_fullStr Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
title_short Risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in Yemen: a hospital based matched case-control study
title_sort risk factors for acute respiratory infection among children in yemen a hospital based matched case control study
topic Household food insecurity
Acute respiratory infection
Children
Risk factors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05880-6
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