NEED FOR THE STUDY

Under-five group is the most important age group in all societies which constitute 30
percentage of total population, because the determinants of infectious diseases are laid
down to this age group.

Acute infections of less than 30 days affecting to any part of the

respiratory system and its related structures is reffered to as Acute respiratory tract
infections.This can be classified as respiratory tract infections depending upon the site of
the infection and is reffered as ARTI of the upper or lower respiratory tract.

Acute upper respiratory tract infection (AURTI or AURI)are the

illnesses caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract.It include
the common cold,pharyngitis whereas lower respiratory tract infection include
epiglottitis,laryngitis,bronchitis,bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Lower respiratory tract infections plays a considerable strain on

the health budget and are generally more serious than upper respiratory infections.Since
1993 there has been a slight reduction in the total number of deaths from lower
respiratory tract infection.However in 2002 they were the leading cause of deaths among
all infectious diseases and they accounted for 3.9 million deaths world wide and 6.9% of
all deaths that year.

The incidence and severity of pneumonia is considerably higher in

developing countries.Nearly 30-50% of children with ARI are visiting the out patient
department and 20-40% of children are getting admitted with ARTI.

Pneumonia is the most common cause of death in the United

States.It is the 7th leading cause of death resulting in almost 70000 deaths per year.Virus
are the most common cause of pneumonia in infant and children.Most of the ARI
episodes are self limiting infections of viral origin such as cough and cold.

According to the WORLD HEALTH REPORT [1999] 27% of

Disability Adjusted Life Years [DALYS]attributable to major childhood conditions are
due to ARTI.

WHO conducted a study in 1986 to identify the role of probable

predisposing factors in causing ARI in children.The study was conducted on 1085
children’s population and the finding revealed that average ARI episodes per child during
six months survey period were 2.3.The episode were higher among the children of
smoker parents and those who have an increased exposure to domestic smoke pollution.

ARTI were one of the major causes of child mortality rate in

India.Hospital records from States with high infant mortality rates show upto 13% of in-
patient deaths in paediatric wards are due to ARTI.
 IN 1990 UNICEF conducted a study on ARI in children of Bagladesh
which focused attention on group discussions to fond out the woman’s perception and
practices.It has been found that traditional beliefs and practices regarding respiratory tract
infections co-exist with allopathic therapies and there us an evidence of smattering of free
modern scientific health belief as well.The body of traditional beliefs and practices
includes both health promotion and potentially health damaging elements

A programme called ART disease control programme was started as a

pilot project.By 1992 thus was merged with CSSM.The aim was to improve the treatment
practices in hospital and health centres.

The overall awareness among mothers with regard to their rights,duies of

responsibilities would strengthen the health care services in the society.One of the most
encouraging signs of our times is the awakening of the mother to the needs and rights of
children,since mother is the first teacher of the child.The mother play a key role in the
treatment of the child with cough and cold and pneumonia,as they do not require any
hospitalization and are totally preventable and curable.So it is vital to understand the
level of knowledge of the mothers with regard to acute respiratory infections.Hence we
planned to take up a study to asses the knowledge of the mothers of the under-five
children with regard to selected acute respiratory tract infection in selected areas of
Raichur.