Child health in a Brazilian squatter settlement: acute infections and associated risk factors

As a response to the need for more information about health problems in poor urban communities, a health survey was conducted in Rocinha, the largest squatter settlement, or favela, in Rio de Janeiro. A fifteen-day recall period was used to measure gastro-intestinal disorders, acute respiratory infections, and infections of the throat/ears/eyes in 600 children under 5 years of age. The respective prevalence of the three categories was 44, 79, and 14 per cent. Taking only severe episodes into account, the prevalence was 4, 12, and 2.5 per cent, respectively. Risk factors, such as household income and environmental conditions (socioeconomic status), migration status, maternal stress, magnitude of separation between child and mother, and age of child, are examined and implications of positive associations are discussed.