Table 3. Risk factors for allergic conjunctivitis among schoolchildren in Uganda (N = 1691).
| Conjunctivitis ever | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Yes (N = 772) | No (N = 919) | Adj. OR1 (95% CI) | p-value |
| Age, years Mean (SD) | 11.45 (3.10) | 10.80 (3.12) | 1.06 (1.02–1.10) | .002 |
| Girls (942) | 430 (55.7) | 512 (55.7) | 1.02 (0.82–1.27) | .83 |
| Father’s education [m = 20] | ||||
| None/Primary (437) | 172 (22.4) | 265 (29.3) | 1 | .08 |
| Secondary (595) | 284 (37.1) | 311 (34.4) | 1.28 (0.97–1.69) | |
| Tertiary (639) | 310 (40.5) | 329 (36.3) | 1.35 (1.03–1.79)a | |
| Father’s history of allergic disease [m = 148] | ||||
| Yes (363) | 222 (31.2) | 141 (17.0) | 2.06 (1.56–2.71) | <.0001 |
| Mother’s history of allergic disease [m = 125] | ||||
| Yes (592) | 315 (43.4) | 277 (32.9) | 1.57 (1.24–1.98) | <.0001 |
| Area of residence at the time of the child’s birth | ||||
| Rural (354) | 158 (20.5) | 196 (21.3) | 1 | .006 |
| Town (1188) | 523 (67.7) | 665 (72.4) | 0.89 (0.68–1.16) | |
| City (149) | 91 (11.8) | 58 (6.3) | 1.69 (1.09–2.64)b | |
| Exposure to animals in first 5 years of life [m = 58] | ||||
| Yes (615) | 296 (39.7) | 319 (35.9) | 1.33 (1.05–1.67) | .02 |
| Frequency of ‘trucks passing on street near child’s home’ at enrolment | ||||
| Rarely (944) | 411 (53.2) | 533 (58.0) | 1 | .05 |
| Frequently (624) | 290 (37.6) | 334 (36.3) | 1.06 (0.84–1.34) | |
| Almost all the time (123) | 71 (9.2) | 53 (5.7) | 1.60 (1.03–2.48)c | |
| Use of de-worming medication in last 12 months [m = 1] | ||||
| None (578) | 228 (29.6) | 350 (38.1) | 1 | <.0001 |
| Once (732) | 320 (41.5) | 412 (44.8) | 1.09 (0.85–1.40) | |
| ≥Twice (380) | 223 (28.9) | 157 (17.1) | 1.94 (1.44–2.63)d | |
| Any helminth infection at enrolment [m = 129] | ||||
| Yes (212) | 87 (12.1) | 125 (14.8) | 0.88 (0.63–1.22) | .44 |
| Tuberculin skin test induration at enrolment [N = 960] | ||||
| Positive (≥10 mm) (143) | 58 (13.9) | 85 (15.6) | 0.68 (0.45–1.05) | .08 |
| Skin Prick Test response to any of 7 allergens at enrolment [m = 35] | ||||
| Positive (≥3 mm) (657) | 368 (48.9) | 289 (32.0) | 1.76 (1.40–2.21) | <.0001 |
| Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels at enrolment [m = 79] | ||||
| Elevated (≥35 ppb) (381) | 227 (30.2) | 154 (17.9) | 1.57 (1.20–2.05) | .001 |
| Allergen-specific IgE at enrolment (N = 397)2 | ||||
| Atopic (≥0.35 kUA/L) (251) | 136 (67.3) | 155 (59.0) | 1.22 (0.75–1.98) | .41 |
| Total IgE at enrolment (N = 398) | ||||
| Median (95% CI) kU/L | 335.2 (250.7–457.6) | 335.8 (270.9–420.0) | 0.9999 (0.9997–1.0001) | .28 |
Abbreviations: Adj. OR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; m, missing; N, number; SD, standard deviation; Columns 2 and 3 represent number (%), unless stated otherwise.
1
Adjusted for child’s age, sex, area of residence at birth and father’s education. Test for trend p-value: a = 0.03; b = 0.22; c = 0.09; d < 0.0001.
2
ImmunoCAP®, cut-off > 0.35 kUA/L.