The Relationship Between House Physical Condition, Cigarette Smoke Exposure, and Maternal Knowledge with the Incidence of Pneumonia in Toddlers

Abstract

Pneumonia is an acute lower respiratory tract infection that is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years old in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the relationship between physical house conditions, exposure to cigarette smoke, and maternal knowledge with the incidence of pneumonia in toddlers in the Serang City Health Center working area in 2023. The study used a case-control design, the sample consisted of 42 cases and 42 controls (1:1). The results showed a significant association between the incidence of pneumonia in toddlers with room ventilation area (p-value 0.002), humidity (p-value 0.079), cigarette smoke exposure (p-value 0.000), and maternal knowledge (p-value 0.009). This study is important to provide information about the causes and efforts in preventing pneumonia. It is expected that the community can increase knowledge about the causes and prevention of pneumonia in toddlers, especially related to the physical condition of the house, and make changes in smoking behavior.