Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Tract  Infection among Children Less than 2 Years Old  in Tikrit City

Raghad Saad Abdulkareem; Israa Izaldeen Ibrahim; Alaa Zanzal Ra’ad Al-Dorri

Raghad Saad Abdulkareem Department of microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Tikrit, Tikri- Iraq
Israa Izaldeen Ibrahim Department of microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Tikrit, Tikri- Iraq
Alaa Zanzal Ra’ad Al-Dorri Department of microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Tikrit, Tikri- Iraq

Keywords: Acute Respiratory Infections, Maternal Risk Factors, Antibiotic Resistance, Recurrent Infection

Abstract

Background: Numerous factors may contribute to recurrent respiratory infection. These appeared to be unavoidable during the first few months of life and are common throughout childhood. However, there is a
aucity of literature on this aspect of respiratory infections in Tikrit city.
Objective: To determine the risk factors for respiratory tract infections in children under 2-year-old.
Methods: The present cross-sectional research was conducted at Tikrit Hospital and enrolled 180 children with respiratory infections less than two years of age. The questionnaire was used for data collection and was administered by the interviewers to the reliable informants.
Results: The total sample size was 180, most of whom (169, 93.8%) exhibited recurrence of respiratory infection. 42.6% of children in urban areas and 57.4% of children in rural areas experienced recurrence. Among the mothers of children with infections, 38% were educated up to the primary level, 36% up to the secondary level, and 26% up to the college level. Amoxicillin (46%) was more commonly used for the treatment of respiratory infections, followed by azithromycin (22%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (17%).
Conclusions: The study showed that the recurrence of respiratory infection in rural areas with low- educated mothers was more than that in urban areas. Breast-fed children had the lowest percentage of recurrence as compared to mixed- and bottle fed children.

How to cite this article:
Abulkareem R S, Ibrahim I I, Al-Dorri A Z R.
Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Tract
Infection among Children Less than 2 Years Old
in Tikrit City. J Commun Dis. 2025;57(2):122-125.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202546

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