Mutai Bethwel Kipkoech*, Nzioka John Muthama**, John Kinyuru Ng’ang’a*, Alex Mutuku Mwanthi*** and Moses Mwangi Manene****

^* School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi

^**Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi

^***School of Public Health, University of Nairobi

^****School of Mathematics, University of Nairobi

https://doi.org/10.20987/jccs.1.05.2018

Corresponding Author

Bethwel Kipkoech Mutai

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(Received 20 October 2017, received in revised form 8 May 2018, Accepted 9 May 2018)

Abstract

In this study, face-to-face survey was conducted between 28 May and 3 June 2016 in order to investigate socioeconomic and environmental risk factors for respiratory infections prevalence from 559 respondents in Kenya. From the analysis, more male (67.4% ±3.8) than female were sampled, with 75% (±4.0) of the sampled population being below 38 years. Respiratory problems are more prevalent among females (6 in 10 cases). The prevalence increases with age. It is higher among respondents with no formal education (6 in 10 cases) and among those whose main occupation is agriculture (8 in 10 cases). Higher prevalence (6 in 10 cases) is associated with larger household size (6 and 7). A decrease in prevalence from about 6 to 2 in 10 cases and  from 52 to 45 in 100 cases is associated with an improvement in the perceived outdoor and indoor air quality, respectively from very low to very high at the area of residence. Point prevalence of respiratory infections among the sampled respondents is dependent on age, gender, occupation, household size, and perceived air quality. The established negative association indicates the need to promote awareness on the risk factors among the respondents.

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