Environmental risk factors for acute respiratory infections among children of military personnel in Uganda.

A community-based, cross-sectional survey was done in five Army camps in the central area of Uganda to explore relationships between environmental household conditions and the presence or absence of acute respiratory infections. A total sample of 122 homes with 152 children of both sexes were studied. Each child was medically examined and diagnosis recorded. A check-list was filled out for each household that had at least one child aged 5 years or less; the list recorded conditions of crowding, roofing materials, house ventilation, cooking fuels and cooking place, family income and immunization status. Cross-tabulation tables were prepared and Chi-square values calculated for the various forms of ARI and environmental characteristics. Significance level was put at 5% (p = < 0.05). Using standard tables, significant associations were found between ARI diagnosed at the examination of a child and the following: number of persons per house (p = 0.01); bed sharing (p = 0.027); house ventilation (p = > 0.01) and; presence or absence of a smoke vent in a house (p = 0.002). Crowding and increased indoor air-pollution were rife in Ugandan Army camps and seem to have contributed to the local incidence of ARI in children. It is recommended that health education activities be started to promote improved environmental sanitation and to reduce crowding. Simple smoke vents should be installed over fireplaces to reduce indoor air pollution. The use of gas or electricity as cleaner cooking fuels and making better constructed houses are preferable strategies but both are not likely to be achieved at the moment.