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.