A study lifestyle behavior of signs and symptoms of acute respiratory infection in children under five years old in Wiang Phang Kham Sub District Mae Sai district

Abstract

Objective: To study lifestyle-related behaviors with PM 2.5 in children under five in Wiang Phang Kham Sub District Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai Province.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Wiang Phang Kham Sub District Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai Province. Data was collected using a questionnaire inquire with the mother or caregiver, selecting children aged 5 years or younger in the area under surveillance, who exhibit symptoms or signs of respiratory infection, such as cough with or without fever, sore throat, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing. from August 2022 to May 2023.
Results: A total of 171 participants. The average age of the children was 2.50±1.47 years, and their mothers or caregivers had a mean age of 34.40±11.1 years—the highest education level of ‘able to read and write (31.0%). Most family sizes have more than four members (78.9%). Children were fully vaccinated (67.8%). For malnutrition, use the mid-upper arm circumference (16.2±2.11cm). The most cooking energy source was biomass fuels (46.2%). 44.4% of the children were not in the cooking area when their mothers or caregivers prepared the food, with an average time of 28.1±16.2 minutes per session. 40.4% of the families had cigarette smokers. Most children are kept away from smoking areas (53.8%), with minimal exposure time (0.442 minutes). 4.1% of participants burned trash outside, averaging 0.731 minutes per session. Revealed that 95.9% of the families burned trash inside the house area, and 90.1% of the children were indoors during this activity. Most of the houses had windows in the kitchen (87.1%). All the houses (100.0%) had a characteristic division in proportion. Children spend around 2.75 minutes outdoors and 21.2 minutes indoors per day. Children always washed their hands (77.8%), and 98.8% did not wear a mask when they went outside. Most houses in this study had in-house toilets with adequate sewage disposal (74.9%). For bare of signs and symptoms of acute respiratory infection, children had a
cough (36.30%), Rapid breath (43.90%), difficulty in breathing (33.90%), wheezing (26.30%), and sore throat (36.80%).
Conclusions: This study’s findings it demonstrates a lifestyle that involves exposure to air pollution or living in areas where air pollution accumulates, such as being in locations where biomass fuel is used for
cooking or in areas with regular smoking. Living in these environments increases the risk of developing symptoms and signs of acute respiratory infections more quickly. However, with proper preventive measures, including complete vaccination, the body can maintain good health. underscore the crucial role of childcare practices in the occurrence of respiratory infections, particularly in the context of air pollution. The vulnerability of children under the age of 5, as revealed by this study, necessitates their close monitoring and the implementation of preventive measures by caregivers, including mothers. These findings are not only significant for the specific district in Thailand but also provide valuable insights for public health
interventions and policies globally. They emphasize the importance of understanding the issues, raising awareness about prevention methods, and acknowledging the potential impacts on individuals, all of which are essential to promoting sustainable health across all age groups.