Time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia admitted to public general hospitals in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2025: A prospective follow-up study
4 affiliations
- 1Araya Kahsu Health Science Colleges, Aksum, Ethiopia
- 2Aksum University College of Health Sciences, Aksum, Ethiopia
- 3Adigrat University College of Health Sciences, Adigrat, Ethiopia
- 4Aksum St. Mary General Hospital, Aksum, Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Globally, pneumonia is a major cause of illness and death in children, with over 1,400 cases per 100,000 children each year. In sub-Saharan Africa, pneumonia is responsible for approximately 172 deaths per 1,000 live births. Ethiopia has the fifth highest mortality rate from pneumonia among children under five, especially severe community-acquired pneumonia. In Ethiopia, there are limited prospective follow-up studies on time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. However, no prospective follow-up study conducted on time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia admitted to public general hospitals of Tigray. Methods: A prospective follow-up study was conducted among 305 children using consecutive sampling to select the study participants from December 20, 2024, to February 20, 2025. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.7 and then exported to STATA version 14 for further statistical analysis. The Kaplan–Meier curve was used to estimate recovery time. Both bivariable and multivariable Cox regression models were applied to analyze the data. Finally, the results were reported with 95% confidence intervals, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: The recovery rate among pediatric patients was 85.2%, with a median recovery time of 5 days. The overall incidence of recovery rate was 16.30 per 100 person days observation (95% CI: 14.43–18.40). Being rural residence (AHR = 0.69;95%CI (0.53–0.90), late presenter to seeking care (AHR = 0.56; 95% CI (0.35–0.88), absence of danger sign (AHR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.07–2.05)), absence of comorbidity (AHR = 3.02; 95% CI: 2.15–4.22) and not receiving oxygen therapy (AHR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.20–2.41), were significant predictors. Conclusions: The median recovery time of patients was considerably high. Rural residence, late presentation for care, absence of danger signs, absence of comorbidity, and not receiving oxygen therapy were statistically significant predictors of recovery time.
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BibTeX
@article{ygzaw2026time,
title = {{Time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia admitted to public general hospitals in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2025: A prospective follow-up study}},
author = {Tekle Gebremeskel Ygzaw and Teklewoini Mariye Zemicheal and Gebreamlak Gebremedhn Gebremeskel and Teklebrhan Welderufael Kidane and Berhe Gebrehiwot Tewele and Ngsti Gebremicheal Beyene and Guesh Teklu Woldemariam and Nebiat Desale Gidey and Gebremedhn Sibhat Weldegebrieal and Geberziher Geberslassie Weleargay and Birhanu Kassie Reta and Binyam Gebrehiwet Tesfay},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358705},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358705},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia admitted to public general hospitals in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2025: A prospective follow-up study
AU - Tekle Gebremeskel Ygzaw
AU - Teklewoini Mariye Zemicheal
AU - Gebreamlak Gebremedhn Gebremeskel
AU - Teklebrhan Welderufael Kidane
AU - Berhe Gebrehiwot Tewele
AU - Ngsti Gebremicheal Beyene
AU - Guesh Teklu Woldemariam
AU - Nebiat Desale Gidey
AU - Gebremedhn Sibhat Weldegebrieal
AU - Geberziher Geberslassie Weleargay
AU - Birhanu Kassie Reta
AU - Binyam Gebrehiwet Tesfay
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358705
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358705
AB - Background: Globally, pneumonia is a major cause of illness and death in children, with over 1,400 cases per 100,000 children each year. In sub-Saharan Africa, pneumonia is responsible for approximately 172 deaths per 1,000 live births. Ethiopia has the fifth highest mortality rate from pneumonia among children under five, especially severe community-acquired pneumonia. In Ethiopia, there are limited prospective follow-up studies on time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. However, no prospective follow-up study conducted on time to recovery and its predictors among pediatric patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia admitted to public general hospitals of Tigray. Methods: A prospective follow-up study was conducted among 305 children using consecutive sampling to select the study participants from December 20, 2024, to February 20, 2025. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.7 and then exported to STATA version 14 for further statistical analysis. The Kaplan–Meier curve was used to estimate recovery time. Both bivariable and multivariable Cox regression models were applied to analyze the data. Finally, the results were reported with 95% confidence intervals, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: The recovery rate among pediatric patients was 85.2%, with a median recovery time of 5 days. The overall incidence of recovery rate was 16.30 per 100 person days observation (95% CI: 14.43–18.40). Being rural residence (AHR = 0.69;95%CI (0.53–0.90), late presenter to seeking care (AHR = 0.56; 95% CI (0.35–0.88), absence of danger sign (AHR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.07–2.05)), absence of comorbidity (AHR = 3.02; 95% CI: 2.15–4.22) and not receiving oxygen therapy (AHR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.20–2.41), were significant predictors. Conclusions: The median recovery time of patients was considerably high. Rural residence, late presentation for care, absence of danger signs, absence of comorbidity, and not receiving oxygen therapy were statistically significant predictors of recovery time.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -