Publication: National Health and Morbidity Survey 1996. Volume 12: Acute Respiratory Infections In Children Less Than Five Years
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Date
1996
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kuala Lumpur: Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Abstract
In this survey, the prevalence rate of acute respiratory infections in children less than five was 39.3%. Upper respiratory infections made up 91.1% of these infections, pneumonia 6.9%, and severe pneumonia 2.0%. The prevalence rate was found to be highest in Sabah (49.4%) and lowest in Perak (30.1%). It was higher in rural areas as compared to urban areas. By ethnicity, it was highest in other Bumiputera (49.6%) followed by the Others (42.6%). and it was lowest in the Chinese (27.8%). Families with the lowest income of less than RM400 per month also had the highest prevalence rate. These children in rural areas and of other bumiputra ethnicity as well as from families with income of less than RM400 per month had also higher percentage of pneumonia and severe pneumonia. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between boys and girls, but there was a significant difference in the rates in different age groups. By age group with severity of the disease, neonates recorded the lowest percentage of upper respiratory infection (69.2%) but the highest percentage (25.9%) with severe pneumonia. The older age groups suffered higher percentage of upper respiratory infection (URI). The majority of children (39.2%) sought treatment at private facilities while 29.98% at government facilities. However, more children with the more serious infections sought treatment at government facilities; 33.0% for pneumonia and 38.7% for severe pneumonia. 14.9% of children with pneumonia and 17.1% with severe pneumonia did not go for any treatment. The main reason given for not seeking treatment was that the illness was not considered to be serious. For severe pneumonia, the most common reason given (37.0%) was that there were no specialist services. This survey identified children who were at higher risk of having the more serious acute respiratory infections vis-a-vis pneumonia and severe pneumonia. Doctors in the private sector have an important role to play in the management of acute respiratory infections. I is recommended that mothers and child minders need to be taught to recognize signs of serious illness in children with acute respiratory infections.
Description
viii, 28 p.; illus., tab.
Keywords
Diseases -- Reporting -- Malaysia, Health status indicators -- Malaysia, Health surveys -- Malaysia, Morbidity -- Malaysia -- Statistics, Public health -- Malaysia – Statistics