Sociodemographic and Health Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Pertussis in Children in Guinea: A Case-control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is an acute respiratory infection characterised by a paroxysmal cough and high contagiousness. In January 2023, cases of pertussis occurred in the health districts of Lelouma and Lola, Republic of Guinea. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of the main risk factors associated with the occurrence of pertussis in children exposed to a confirmed case, in order to guide public health interventions. Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted using data from linear lists of exposed children. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between several factors and the occurrence of pertussis. Results: A total of 204 cases and 408 controls were included. Sharing the same drinking cup (ORa 3.22; 95% CI 2.00-5.18) and close proximity of children in the household (ORa 4.31; 95% CI 2.52-7.39) were significantly associated with an increased risk of whooping cough. Full vaccination had a protective effect (ORa 0.38; 95% CI 0.21-0.70), while partial vaccination showed no significant association. Conclusion: The study highlights several modifiable risk factors associated with the occurrence of pertussis in exposed children. These results confirm the importance of improving interpersonal hygiene practices and increasing full vaccination coverage to prevent transmission of the disease.