Under‐five children's acute respiratory infection dropped significantly in Bangladesh: An evidence from Bangladesh demographic and health survey, 1996–2018

Aim This study aims to systematically identify and review the most significant risk factors and the trends that follow acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children under five in Bangladesh. Methods A total of 6863 under‐five children were eligible for our analysis, retrieved from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2014. ARI cases were defined if a child experienced coughing with short and rapid breathing at the chest that occurred during 2 weeks prior to the study. Logistic regression and systematic review methods were appraised to explore the various risk factors involving ARI in Bangladesh. Furthermore, a trend analysis was performed to overlook the historical trend of ARI prevalence and affiliated determinants from 1996/97 to 2017/18 in Bangladesh. Results Over the past two decades, Bangladesh experienced a significant drop in ARI prevalence from 12.8% in 1996 to only 3.0% in 2018. The cross‐sectional findings revealed that boys (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.78), stunted children (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.78) and mothers with primary or no education (OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.43–4.90) and secondary education (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.00–3.44) have the higher odds of ARI than their counterparts. Conclusion Acute respiratory infection prevalence significantly declined in Bangladesh, while boys, stunted children and uneducated or primary educated mothers were identified as potential risk factors.