Prevalence and determinants of Otitis Media in children 1 to 6 years of age: An analytical cross-sectional study

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Otitis Media; and to assess the risk factors for Otitis media in children aged one to six years of age. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Rural Field Practice Area (RFPA) of a tertiary healthcare facility in north India between September 2018 and December 2019. Children in the age group of 1 to 6 years presenting with acute suppurative otitis media, or sequelae of acute otitis media including Otitis media with effusion and chronic otitis media were considered as cases of Otitis media. Results: The overall prevalence rate of Otitis media was found to be 12.7%. Regarding the distribution of types of Otitis media, it was found that 36.8% had Otitis media with effusion, 34.2% had eustachian tube catarrh, 21.1% had Chronic suppurative otitis media – Tubotympanic disease (CSOM-TTD), and 7.9% had Acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM), in that order. We found that age less than three years (or 36 months) (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.92 to 3.45); living in a kutcha house (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.74); malnutrition, that is weight for age <-2SD from reference median (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.76 to 5.58); breastfeeding for less than six months (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.88); and persistent rhinorrhoea (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.56 to 4.33) were significant predictors of Otitis media among children one to six years of age (p<0.05). Conclusion: Efforts should focus on improving housing conditions, promoting breastfeeding practices, addressing malnutrition, and managing respiratory symptoms effectively.