مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Effects of Poverty on theFrequency of llness in Children Aged 1-4 Years

Abstract :

Objective: This research was made as a descriptive study for the purpose of examining the effects of poverty on the frequency of illness in children aged 1-4 years. Method: The research population was comprised of children aged 1-4 who lived in Yeşilyurt Subdivision, which has the lowest socioeconomic level in Muş province, and in Kültür-2 Subdivision, which has the highest socioeconomic level. The research sample was comprised of a total of 260 children who were chosen by using a formula that assumed that there would be a difference of 30% based on frequency of becoming ill between the high and low socioeconomic level subdivisions. Survey form was completed in face to face interviews with the mothers of 1-4 year old children during home visits. Data were evaluated on the computer. Number, percentage and Chi square test were used in the analysis of the data. Results: It was determined that 16.9% of the children in the Yeşilyurt Subdivision had ear infections three times a year, 20.9% had diarrhea-vomiting five or more times a year, and 19.5% had urinary tract infection five or more times a year; 89.3% of the children in the Kültür-2 Subdivision had ear infections once a year, 62.9% had diarrhea-vomiting once or twice a year and 90.0% had urinary tract infection once or twice a year (p 0.05). Conclusion: As it has been confirmed that the children living in low socio-economic neighbourhoods get sick more and more often, it is recommended that midwife/nurses ought to determine particularly the children living in low socio-economic regions and follow them quite often.