Factores asociados a la otitis media en lactantes

Abstract

Objective: To determine personal and family factors associated with otitis media among infants. Methods: Quantitative, observational, cross-sectional and correlational study including 75 mothers of infants attending a health facility in 2025. Personal and family factors were obtained through a structured interview, while otitis media diagnoses were verified from medical records. Frequencies and percentages were described. Because several cells had small expected counts, associations were verified with the Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test using Monte Carlo simulation, and Cramér’s V was estimated. Results: Acute otitis media was present in 28.0% of infants, recurrent otitis media in 6.7%, and no otitis media in 65.3%. Associations were observed with age (p=0.032), sex (p=0.048), attendance at a childcare institution (p=0.001), type of feeding during the first six months (p=0.048), prevalent childhood conditions (p=0.008), family history of otitis media (p<0.001), and parental tobacco smoke exposure (p=0.005). The largest effect sizes were observed for family history (V=0.524) and parental smoking (V=0.372). Conclusion: Otitis media was associated with personal characteristics, family history, and tobacco smoke exposure. Given the cross-sectional design and sample size, findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal relationships. Keywords: infant; otitis media; risk factors; breast feeding; tobacco smoke pollution.