Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children

This study investigates and identifies risk factors, comorbidity, and health service use related to ear infection in Australian children. Two cross-sectional analyses of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) involved 4,983 children aged 4 to 5 years in 2004 and aged 10 to 11 years in...

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Main Authors: Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, Anthony Hogan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/963132
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author Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
Anthony Hogan
author_facet Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
Anthony Hogan
author_sort Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates and identifies risk factors, comorbidity, and health service use related to ear infection in Australian children. Two cross-sectional analyses of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) involved 4,983 children aged 4 to 5 years in 2004 and aged 10 to 11 years in 2010. Odds ratios (ORs) were analysed using bivariate logistic regression. The prevalence of parent-reported ear infection was 7.9% (394) among children aged 4 to 5 years and 3.3% (139) at 10 to 11 years. Our study found that risk factors associated with ear infection were indigenous status, not being breastfed, mother or father smoking at least once a day, and father’s school completion at year 9 or lower. By age 10 to 11 years significantly reported comorbidities were tonsillitis (OR 4.67; P<0.001), headache (OR 2.13; P=0.006), and asthma (OR 1.67; P=0.003) and ear infection was found to be associated with the use of pediatrician (OR 1.83; P=0.031), other specialist (OR 2.12; P<0.001), and early intervention services (OR 3.08; P=0.010). This empirical evidence can be used to inform the development of intervention and management programs for ear infection.
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spelling doaj-art-bfb5f4e1d3f34fbc97e4454b6faf6a112025-02-03T05:43:42ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592013-01-01201310.1155/2013/963132963132Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian ChildrenVasoontara Yiengprugsawan0Anthony Hogan1The Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Acton, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaANZSOG Institute for Governance, University of Canberra, Acton, Canberra, ACT 2617, AustraliaThis study investigates and identifies risk factors, comorbidity, and health service use related to ear infection in Australian children. Two cross-sectional analyses of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) involved 4,983 children aged 4 to 5 years in 2004 and aged 10 to 11 years in 2010. Odds ratios (ORs) were analysed using bivariate logistic regression. The prevalence of parent-reported ear infection was 7.9% (394) among children aged 4 to 5 years and 3.3% (139) at 10 to 11 years. Our study found that risk factors associated with ear infection were indigenous status, not being breastfed, mother or father smoking at least once a day, and father’s school completion at year 9 or lower. By age 10 to 11 years significantly reported comorbidities were tonsillitis (OR 4.67; P<0.001), headache (OR 2.13; P=0.006), and asthma (OR 1.67; P=0.003) and ear infection was found to be associated with the use of pediatrician (OR 1.83; P=0.031), other specialist (OR 2.12; P<0.001), and early intervention services (OR 3.08; P=0.010). This empirical evidence can be used to inform the development of intervention and management programs for ear infection.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/963132
spellingShingle Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
Anthony Hogan
Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
International Journal of Pediatrics
title Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
title_full Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
title_fullStr Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
title_full_unstemmed Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
title_short Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors, Comorbidity, and Health Service Use in Australian Children
title_sort ear infection and its associated risk factors comorbidity and health service use in australian children
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/963132
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AT anthonyhogan earinfectionanditsassociatedriskfactorscomorbidityandhealthserviceuseinaustralianchildren