Childhood Pneumonia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-04, Vol.16 (4), p.e57636-e57636
• Main Authors: M, Selvi, Vaithilingan, Sasi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Breastfeeding & lactation; Childhood; Children & youth; Cross-sectional studies; Environmental conditions; Environmental factors; Epidemiology; Families & family life; Health care; Indoor air pollution; Indoor environments; Mothers; Overcrowding; Pathogens; Pediatrics; Peptides; Pneumonia; Poverty; Qualitative research; Respiratory syncytial virus; Risk factors; Risk taking; Socioeconomics; Streptococcus infections; Systematic review
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57636

Childhood pneumonia is a major contributor to illness and death in children under the age of five globally. Despite advancements in medical science, the burden of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing literature on the prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking behaviors associated with pediatric CAP to inform the development of targeted community-based interventions. An extensive search of various databases such as Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, PubMed Central, Helinet, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, and Biomed Central was performed, resulting in 65 potentially relevant studies. After a thorough evaluation process, 25 studies were selected for the final analysis. These selected studies offered valuable information on the epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking behaviors associated with childhood pneumonia. The review revealed that environmental factors such as indoor air pollution, overcrowding, and exposure to tobacco smoke are significant risk factors for pediatric pneumonia. Additionally, socioeconomic factors, including poverty and a lack of access to clean water and sanitation, contribute to the vulnerability of children to this disease. Poor healthcare-seeking behaviors, driven by limited knowledge and awareness of pneumonia symptoms and treatment, further exacerbate the situation. The review also highlighted the critical role of vaccination, particularly against type b (Hib) and pneumococcus, in preventing pneumonia. However, gaps in vaccination coverage and challenges in accessing healthcare services remain barriers to effective pneumonia control. In light of these findings, the review recommends the implementation of community-based interventions that address the multifaceted determinants of pediatric pneumonia. These interventions should focus on improving environmental conditions, enhancing access to preventive measures such as vaccination, and promoting better healthcare-seeking behaviors through education and awareness campaigns. It is essential for healthcare providers, policymakers, and community members to collaborate in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and sustainable interventions. This cooperation aims to lessen the impact of pneumonia on children and their families.