The impact of socioeconomic factors on risk and frequency of hospitalization for infectious diseases among teenagers in sub-sahara Africa

Article Outline

• Copyright

Background: The association between socioeconomic status and illness in adults and childhood has been studied extensively but the relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk and frequency of hospitalization has not been well studied among teenagers. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the individual socioeconomic status on the risk and frequency of hospitalization in a survey among Teenagers in sub-sahara Africa. This study was to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic factors on the hospitalization of Teenagers with infectious diseases

Methods: A survey of 1250 teenagers were conducted to ascertain the impact of socioeconomic factors on the risk and frequency of hospitalization of infectious diseases. The main exposure variables adjusted for confounding factors were parents education, parents income and residence location and type of apartment. Hence multiple linear regressional analysis was applied for the analysis.

Results: 1250 respondents with age 15.61+3.71 yrs, male 52.5%, female 47.5%. Teenagers with low income parents showed the greatest rate of hospitalization than for the average and high income parents. In respect of the risk of sickness, teens with high income parents showed the highest level compared to the average and low income counterparts. The risk of hospitalization was increased in teenagers of parents with a low level of education compared with vocational education. Malaria was the leading infectious disease in respective of the level of income, education, residence type and location. Malaria is a major health problem and among the top leading causes of morbidity in Africa. Low socioeconomic status showed a significant association with the rate of being sick of infectious diseases. There was no significant relationship that exist for the risk and frequency of hospitalization with the location and type of apartment.

Conclusion: The results of this study provides evidence that socioeconomic factors can be incriminated as a predisposing factor for increased rate of hospitalization but could not be established for the risk of infectious diseases. Hence, support for undertaking larger epidemiological studies to ascertain objectively the impact of socioeconomic status on the risk and frequency of hospitalization in sub-sahara Africa, so that future preventive efforts can be better understood.