Introduction:

According to the WHO, childhood illnesses related to unhealthy living conditions have increased in recent decades.

Objective:

To describe the prevalence of socio-environmental factors associated with community-acquired pneumonia in patients aged 12 to 60 months hospitalized in a pediatric hospital between January and November 2024.

Materials and methods:

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, ambispective observational study. The Health Information System (HIS) database was reviewed, and telephone interviews were conducted. Variables included demographics, history of prematurity and previous hospitalizations, vaccination status, comorbidities, exclusive breastfeeding, socioeconomic status, exposure to smoke and tobacco, and living in overcrowded conditions and near high-traffic areas. Data were analyzed using SPSS and descriptive statistics. The research ethics committee approved the protocol with informed consent.

Results:

188 patients with a mean age of 36 months from urban areas were included. They had a history of prematurity (14.4%) and comorbidity (11%). Overcrowded housing was observed in 70.6%, and exposure to domestic and environmental smoke was observed in 15.4% and 23.5%, respectively. 60.7% resided ≤500 m from high vehicular traffic, and 59% belonged to the lower-middle/working class. 58.5% had received a full dose of PCV13, and 50% were exclusively breastfed for up to 6 months.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of socio-environmental factors was very high and greater than that of comorbidities. Domestic and environmental air pollution, tobacco smoke, and proximity to high vehicular traffic areas predominated. PCV13 vaccine coverage was very low comparing with the WHO recommendations.

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