Factors Associated with Urinary Tract Infection among Children Aged Less than 5 Years Visiting Department of Pediatrics of Dhulikhel Hospital.

Background Urinary tract infection (UTI) constitutes a significant cause of morbidity, especially among children under five years old. Early diagnosis and management are essential to minimize acute morbidity and prevent the long-term complications associated with urinary tract infections. Objective To identify factors associated with urinary tract infections among children under five years old. Method A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital in Nepal, involving face-to-face interviews with 105 parents of children under 5 years with suspected or culture-positive Urinary tract infections. Data collection occurred from July 2022 to December 2022, covering both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient cases. Logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with urinary tract infections. Result The Urinary tract infection prevalence among children under five was 27.12%, with over half (55.2%) were female. Females had a seven times higher urinary tract infection risk than males (95% CI: 1.64 - 30.18; p = 0.009). Children with congenital anomalies faced a 22.8 times higher urinary tract infection risk (95% CI: 1.70 - 286.56, p = 0.01). Diaper changes exceeding 6 hours elevated the risk by 20.09 times (95% CI: 1.14 - 353.95; p = 0.04). Escherichia coli presence in urine culture correlated with a 9.43 times higher urinary tract infection risk (95% CI: 1.34 - 66.16, P = 0.02). Conclusion Implementing preventive measures, including maintaining personal hygiene and changing diapers frequently, can significantly reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in children, ultimately minimizing medical costs. KEY WORDS Children, Cleaning, Risk factors, Urinary tract infection.