Severe acute respiratory infection in children in a densely populated urban slum in Kenya, 2007-2011.

Background: Reducing acute respiratory infection burden in children in Africa remains a major priority and challenge. We analyzed data from population-based infectious disease surveillance for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) among children <5 years of age in Kibera, a densely populated urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods: Surveillance was conducted among a monthly mean of 5,874 (range = 5,778-6,411) children <5 years old in two contiguous villages in Kibera.

Mortality trends observed in population-based surveillance of an urban slum settlement, Kibera, Kenya, 2007-2010.

Background: We used population based infectious disease surveillance to characterize mortality rates in residents of an urban slum in Kenya.

Methods: We analyzed biweekly household visit data collected two weeks before death for 749 cases who died during January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010. We also selected controls matched by age, gender and having a biweekly household visit within two weeks before death of the corresponding case and compared the symptoms reported.