Strengthen prevention programs for infectious diseases

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 132 views

The Impact of Nutritional Status and Immunization on Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Toddlers: A Study in Dumai City, Indonesia

Introduction

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, particularly in developing countries. In Indonesia, Riau Province has been reported to have a high incidence of ARI in toddlers, with a prevalence of 10.9% according to the Riskesdas 2013 data. Additionally, the province has a high rate of malnutrition, with 15.9% of toddlers suffering from malnutrition. Furthermore, the immunization coverage in the region is only 68%, which is below the minimum standard of 89%. This study aims to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and immunization with the incidence of ARI in toddlers in the working area of the Bukit Kapur Health Center in Dumai City, Indonesia, in 2016.

Background

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are a group of infections that affect the upper and lower respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. ARI can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In children, ARI can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In Indonesia, ARI is a major public health problem, particularly in toddlers, who are more susceptible to infections due to their immature immune system.

Methodology

This study employed a cross-sectional design, which is a type of observational study that involves collecting data from a sample of participants at a single point in time. The study population consisted of 2,459 toddlers who were registered at the Bukit Kapur Health Center in Dumai City, Indonesia. A sample of 137 respondents was selected using the accidental sampling technique. Data were collected using an observation sheet, which included information on the toddlers' nutritional status, immunization status, and incidence of ARI. The data were then analyzed using the Chi Square test and multiple logistic regression.

Results

The results of this study showed a significant relationship between nutritional status and immunization with the incidence of ARI in toddlers. The analysis revealed that toddlers with poor nutritional status were more likely to experience ARI compared to those with good nutritional status. Specifically, the odds ratio (OR) for nutritional status was 5.212, indicating that toddlers with poor nutritional status were five times more likely to experience ARI compared to those with good nutritional status. Similarly, the OR for immunization status was 1.542, indicating that toddlers who were not fully immunized were more likely to experience ARI compared to those who were fully immunized.

Discussion

The findings of this study have important implications for public health policy and practice. The results suggest that improving nutritional quality and compliance with immunization schedules can reduce the incidence of ARI in toddlers. This is consistent with previous studies that have shown a positive relationship between nutritional status and immune function. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of education and awareness-raising about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization for toddlers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides evidence of a significant relationship between nutritional status and immunization with the incidence of ARI in toddlers in Dumai City, Indonesia. The findings suggest that improving nutritional quality and compliance with immunization schedules can reduce the incidence of ARI in toddlers. Therefore, a comprehensive and ongoing approach is needed to overcome this health problem and reduce the morbidity and mortality rates in toddlers. This includes strengthening prevention programs for infectious diseases, increasing education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization, and ensuring that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules for their children.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Strengthen prevention programs for infectious diseases: The Dumai City Health Office should strengthen prevention programs for infectious diseases, particularly ARI, by increasing awareness-raising and education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization.
Increase education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization: Parents and caregivers should be educated about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization for toddlers to reduce the incidence of ARI.
Ensure adequate nutritional intake: Parents should ensure that their children receive adequate nutritional intake, including a balanced diet and regular feeding.
Follow established immunization schedules: Parents should follow established immunization schedules to ensure that their children are fully immunized against ARI.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Cross-sectional design: The study employed a cross-sectional design, which may not capture the temporal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI.
Observational study: The study was an observational study, which may be subject to biases and confounding variables.

Future Directions

Future studies should aim to:

Investigate the temporal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI: Future studies should investigate the temporal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI to better understand the causal relationship between these variables.
Examine the impact of nutritional interventions on ARI: Future studies should examine the impact of nutritional interventions, such as supplementation and fortification, on ARI in toddlers.
Investigate the role of other factors in ARI: Future studies should investigate the role of other factors, such as environmental and socioeconomic factors, in ARI in toddlers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Relationship between Nutritional Status and Immunization with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Toddlers

Q: What is the relationship between nutritional status and immunization with ARI in toddlers?

A: The study found a significant relationship between nutritional status and immunization with ARI in toddlers. Toddlers with poor nutritional status were more likely to experience ARI compared to those with good nutritional status. Similarly, toddlers who were not fully immunized were more likely to experience ARI compared to those who were fully immunized.

Q: What are the implications of this study for public health policy and practice?

A: The findings of this study have important implications for public health policy and practice. Improving nutritional quality and compliance with immunization schedules can reduce the incidence of ARI in toddlers. This includes strengthening prevention programs for infectious diseases, increasing education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization, and ensuring that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules for their children.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including a small sample size, a cross-sectional design, and an observational study design. These limitations may limit the generalizability of the findings and the ability to establish a causal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI.

Q: What are the recommendations for parents and caregivers based on this study?

A: Based on the findings of this study, parents and caregivers are recommended to:

Ensure adequate nutritional intake: Provide a balanced diet and regular feeding to ensure that their children receive adequate nutritional intake.
Follow established immunization schedules: Ensure that their children are fully immunized against ARI by following established immunization schedules.
Increase education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization: Educate themselves and their children about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization to reduce the incidence of ARI.

Q: What are the recommendations for healthcare providers based on this study?

A: Based on the findings of this study, healthcare providers are recommended to:

Strengthen prevention programs for infectious diseases: Strengthen prevention programs for infectious diseases, particularly ARI, by increasing awareness-raising and education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization.
Increase education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization: Educate parents and caregivers about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization to reduce the incidence of ARI.
Ensure that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules: Ensure that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules for their children.

Q: What are the future directions for research based on this study?

A: Future studies should aim to:

Investigate the temporal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI: Investigate the temporal relationship between nutritional status, immunization, and ARI to better understand the causal relationship between these variables.
Examine the impact of nutritional interventions on ARI: Examine the impact of nutritional interventions, such as supplementation and fortification, on ARI in toddlers.
Investigate the role of other factors in ARI: Investigate the role of other factors, such as environmental and socioeconomic factors, in ARI in toddlers.

Q: What are the implications of this study for policy makers and healthcare administrators?

A: The findings of this study have important implications for policy makers and healthcare administrators. Improving nutritional quality and compliance with immunization schedules can reduce the incidence of ARI in toddlers. This includes strengthening prevention programs for infectious diseases, increasing education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization, and ensuring that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules for their children.

Q: What are the next steps for implementing the recommendations of this study?

A: The next steps for implementing the recommendations of this study include:

Strengthening prevention programs for infectious diseases: Strengthening prevention programs for infectious diseases, particularly ARI, by increasing awareness-raising and education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization.
Increasing education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization: Increasing education about the importance of good nutrition and complete immunization to reduce the incidence of ARI.
Ensuring that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules: Ensuring that parents provide adequate nutritional intake and follow established immunization schedules for their children.