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IMPACT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL FACTORS ON RESPIRATORY DISEASES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN EASTERN SLOVAKIA

Kvetoslava Rimarova

Abstract

Introduction: The SES status belongs to the most important health determinants in developed countries. Individual susceptibility for acute respiratory diseases is influenced by many factors: age, nutrition, presence of disease, genetic determination, global health status. Children are a focus points in the health protection considering possibilities of early organs and functions impairment. Material and methods. Cross-sectional study of respiratory health included parents questionnaires collected data about socio-economic status and reported respiratory morbidity and symptoms in their children (2013 – 2015). Data were received from 258 children 6 – 10 years old. Parents reported upper and lower respiratory infection in the child in last 12 months. Results. Results confirmed impact of SES on the incidence of acute upper respiratory infection (UARI) in children and incidence of lower respiratory infection (LARI). LARI were statistically more frequent in families with lower education, local heating system, in children with respiratory allergy and in children where parents reported own allergy. UARI respiratory infection were influenced by mother’s education, allergy in children and parents. ETS – environmental tobacco smoke – wasn’t confirmed as statistically important factor neither for upper respiratory diseases nor for lower respiratory acute diseases. ETS exposure might be influenced by domestic habits where indoor smoking is mostly refused by families. Conclusion. We confirmed impact on SES on higher incidence of respiratory diseases (upper airways respiratory diseases and lower airways respiratory diseases) in schoolchildren, but the study didn’t confirm the effect of parent’s smoking on the incidence of respiratory diseases.

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