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Incidencias comunitarias de infecciones respiratorias en una cohorte de niños menores de 1 año, seguida activamente, en Manhiça ‐ un área rural del sur de Mozambique
Author(s) -
Roca A.,
Quintó L.,
Saúte F.,
Thompson R.,
Aponte J. J.,
Alonso P. L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01566.x
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory system , incidence (geometry) , respiratory infection , respiratory tract infections , cohort , pediatrics , respiratory disease , malaria , rate ratio , cohort study , immunology , lung , confidence interval , physics , optics
Summary Objective To estimate the community incidence‐rates of respiratory infections among infants in Manhiça, southern Mozambique, and to determine risk factors associated with these infections. Methods A cohort of children <1 year of age were visited at home every week until they turned one. During the visits, field workers recorded signs/symptoms of respiratory infections and tested the children for malaria parasites when they had fever. Results Between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999, 1044 children contributed with 23 726 weeks at risk. Children met the criteria for acute respiratory infection in 19.2% of the visits, for lower respiratory infection in 0.9% and for severe lower respiratory infection in 0.2%. The crude incidence rate measured for acute respiratory infections was 23.0, that for lower respiratory infection was 0.9 and that for severe lower respiratory infection was 0.2 per 100‐person‐week‐at‐risk. The risk of acute and lower respiratory infection was inversely related to age. Females were at significantly lower risk for all three conditions than males. A trend of increased risk of severe lower respiratory infection was noted among children born during the rainy season (adjusted rate ratio = 1.95, P = 0.122 in only 47 episodes). Malaria was strongly associated with an increased risk of all three respiratory infections [rate ratio of 2.35, 10.90 and 13.82 ( P < 0.001) in the adjusted analysis, respectively]. Thirty‐five children died during the follow‐up period; 20% of them from lower respiratory infection. Conclusions Respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants in rural Mozambique. Our study provides a better understanding of the associated determinants.