Influence of demographic, socioeconomic, and family factors on morbidity in children under three years of age in Yerevan: a case-control study

Abstract

Introduction: A number of studies in different countries confirm the importance of demographic, socio-economic, and family factors in determining morbidity in children less than three years of age. However, the impact of such factors on the health status of children under three years of age could vary significantly in different countries and regions because of peculiarities in traditions of children up-bringing and the demographic and economic situation in the countries. Further research is, therefore, needed to confirm these associations for children in Yerevan. Objectives: This study identified the relationships between demographic, socioeconomic and family factors and the morbidity in children less than three years of age in Yerevan. Design and methods: A case-control study was conducted among children born in 1999 in Yerevan and their mothers. Cases and controls were selected from children attending district polyclinics in Yerevan. Inform ation regarding their morbidity was obtained from medical records, and information about demographic characteristics of the family, socioeconomic conditions and family lifestyle was obtained during interviews with their mothers. Sixty -four cases and 63 controls were studied. Simple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between each independent variable and outcome. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression models were used to control for potential confounders. Results: The study showed a statistically significant association between frequency of illnesses in children under three years of age and such demographic and economic factors as mother’s education and household monthly expenditure; a statistically significant association was also found between frequency of illnesses and the health behavior of a family, and mothering skills. Recommendations: Pediatricians should be trained to differentiate families having children under three years of age based on demographic and family risk factors. Pediatricians in children’s polyclinics 4 should be more attentive to children with demographic risk factors and family risk factors such as parents’ risk behavior and poor mothering skills.