Publication:

Risk factors of acute otitis media among infants in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background Acute otitis media (AOM) is the second most common disease of childhood. Many factors play role in the causation of AOM. However, the research-based data on risk factors for AOM in infants is still inadequate. Objective were this study aimed to determine the risk factors for AOM in infants with AOM.

Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 189 infant patients with AOM in the otorhinolaryngology outpatient department of allied hospital of Rawalpindi medical university, Rawalpindi. Established inclusion and exclusion criteria and non-probability convenience sampling technique were utilized for the selection of patients. After taking informed consent, data were collected through a self-adapted questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was accomplished through SPSS version 25.

Results AOM was more common among patients who had, an age group with a range of 9-12 months (41.28%), male gender (55.02%), lower birth order (49.73%), mothers with illiterate educational status (53.96%), mothers with the job (57.14%), lower socioeconomic status (59.25%), used bottle-feeding (46.56%), supine position during feeding (61.37%), used a pacifier (67.73%), poor feeding hygiene (58.21%), unvaccinated pneumococcal status (57.15%), and large family (63.50%). In the case of family ear infection and passive smoking, AOM incidence was more frequent among infants whose family had no history of ear infection (69.85%) and no smoking exposure (53.44%).

Conclusions In short, the age group with a range of 9-12 months, male gender, low birth order, illiterate mothers, mothers with the job, lower socioeconomic status, bottle-feeding, supine feeding position, pacifier use, poor feeding hygiene, unvaccinated pneumococcal status, and large family size, all raise the risk of AOM incidence in infants.