Prevalence and predictors of acute respiratory infection among children under-five years in Tigray regional state, northern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infection is still one of the leading causes of child morbidity and mortality worldwide. Developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia continue to share an overburden of this infection. Studies showed that different predictor factors were associated with the occurrence of childhood acute respiratory infection. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated predictor factors of acute respiratory infection among children under-five years in the Tigray Regional State, northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was done from January 18, 2016, to June 27, 2016. A total of 986 children under-five years were selected for this study. The logistic regression model analysis was employed to examine the predictor factors of childhood acute respiratory infection. Both bi-variable and multivariable data analysis was performed using STATA version 14.0. RESULTS: Overall, the study showed that the two weeks prevalence of acute respiratory infection among children under-five years was 16.10% [95%CI: 13.80–18.40]. According to the multivariable logistic regression model analysis, children aged (24–60) months (AOR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.352–0.98), rich wealth index of households (AOR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.378–0.959), diarrhea status of children (AOR: 3, 95%CI: 1.97–4.73), and mothers smoking cigarettes (AOR: 4, 95%CI: 1.15–16.50), were significant predictors of acute respiratory infection. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ARI displays that Tigray regional state was experiencing a higher ARI rate than the national level. The current study identified the low wealth index of households, children aged (24–60 months), mothers smoking cigarettes, and diarrhea status of the children as crucial predictor factors for ARI. Interventions should be improved to these modifiable major predictor factors that significantly decrease the ARI problem among under-five children. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-023-08701-2.