Socioeconomic Status & Educational Attainment
To capture distal factors, SES was assessed using a list of 14 common household items and amenities, adapted from an SES scoring system used in social epidemiology in South Africa8. The median number of assets reported by the caregivers was 7 assets and a cut point was established. Lower SES was defined as a household with 7 or fewer assets and higher SES defined as a household with 8 or more. An additional measure of monthly income was assessed to further understand caregiver resources. Caregiver monthly income was categorized based on the three follow categories <$68, $68-340, and >$340 USD. In addition, caregiver education was explored as a risk factor for childhood TB. Education was classified as <10 or ≥10 years of schooling.
Data Analyses
Data analyses were performed using STATA 15.124. Exploratory data analysis of categorical and continuous variables included frequency tables and histograms of continuous variables to determine distribution. Simple descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study population. Normally distributed continuous data were summarized by mean and standard deviations (SD); non-normally distributed continuous data by median and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical data were summarized as number and proportion. Statistical tests included chi-square test of equal proportions and Kruskal-Wallis comparison of medians. Separate multivariate regression models were developed to futher investiage the collective relationship between independent variables in the childhood ecosystem mode and PTB in children, TB treatment and malnourished children. Only variables that were significant in the univariate models in addition to age and gender were included in multivariate models. Results of the regression models are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Separate regression analyses looked at factors related to non-adherence to follow-up visits. Statistical tests were two-sided at α = 0.05.