Geographical Analysis of Acute Respiratory Infection in Cold Desert Ladakh - India: Unraveling Spatio-temporal Dynamics and Risk Factors.

Summary: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) represents a pervasive global health concern, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Our findings reveal a notably high prevalence of ARI in Ladakh. Employing a cross-sectional design, the total number of households surveyed was 401, among them, the total population was 2107; males, 1153, and females, 954. The highest incidence rate of 160.26/1000 persons was observed in the age group below 14 years, followed by those above 59 years (47.76), while the age group of 14-59 exhibited the lowest incidence rate at 21.23. To explore the factors contributing to ARI in Ladakh, we employed binary logistic regression modeling. Our analysis highlights significant associations between ARI incidence and various socioeconomic and environmental determinants. Notably, primary occupation, family type, kitchen ventilation, domestic fuel consumption, crowding, and smoking behaviors within families were found to be statistically significant determinants of ARI among the sample population of Ladakh.