Prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en niños menores de 7 años en el Hospital General Dr. León Becerra Camacho de Milagro durante el periodo 2018- 2023.

Abstract

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, etiological agents, and risk factors associated with CAP in children under 7 years old treated at Hospital General Dr. León Becerra de Milagro between 2018 and 2023. A quantitative, analytical, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample included 226 children, of whom 113 were diagnosed with CAP giving a prevalence of 13.83%. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test, chi-square test, and odds ratios (OR), with significance set at p < 0.05. The mean age among children with CAP was 3.93 ± 1.14 years, significantly lower than those without (p < 0.001). Male children accounted for 62.83% of CAP cases, with a significant association (OR = 2.13; p = 0.0075). The etiological agent remained undetermined in 86.73% of cases; respiratory viruses (7.08%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (4.42%) were the most frequently identified. Significant associations were found with overcrowding (OR = 3.16), chronic diseases (OR = 8.49), malnutrition (OR = 1.84), and absence of breastfeeding (OR = 0.52). Complete vaccination showed a protective effect (OR = 0.02). It is concluded that, demographic clinical and environmental factors significantly influence the development of CAP in this pediatric population.