Factors associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections among children under five years in Ghana.

Introduction: Globally, childhood mortality is an important public health concern. In Ghana, both diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years old (CU5). Yet, there is a paucity of studies on the comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARIs in CU5 in Ghana.

Aim: This study sought to examine factors associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARIs among CU5 in Ghana.

Methods: The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) 2014 was used for this study. A total of 932 CU5 who had at least one morbidity were included in the study. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the factors associated with comorbidity among CU5.

Results: The prevalence of comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARI among CU5 was 11%. Factors including unimproved source of water, unimproved main floor material, age of child, and initiation of breastmilk were significantly associated with comorbidity of diarrhea and ARI. Improved source of water (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.22-0.78; p = 0.01) reduces the likelihood of having comorbidity than unimproved source of water. Children aged 36-47 months were less likely (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.14-0.93; p = 0.04) to have comorbidity than those aged 48-59 months. Also, improved floor materials (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.22-0.95; p = 0.03) reduces the likelihood of having comorbidity than unimproved floor materials. Children breastfed within the first day of birth were more likely (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.01-0.2.72; p = 0.04) to have comorbidity than those breastfed immediately after birth.

Conclusion: Policymakers and health practitioners should consider risk factors such as age of child, initiation of breastfeeding, unimproved floor material, and unimproved water supply in the design of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARI among CU5.