Objective:

Describe the knowledge and practices of acute respiratory infection by caregivers of children under 5 years of age from the most populous and poorest communities of Bucaramanga, Colombia, and their association with sociodemographic and context variables.

Methodology:

Cross-sectional study Sequential sampling of carers of children under 5 years of age, users of first-level health care centers in the poorest communities of the capital of Santander, was carried out. An interview was conducted on knowledge and practices of preventing and controlling acute respiratory infections. Answers were rated as adequate or inadequate, using the World Health Organization’s guidelines. They were compared based on the group with the highest prevalence of adequate knowledge and practices, and associations with sociodemographic variables were explored.

Results:

403 caregivers participated; 92.6% were women and 45.9% were older than 24. In total, 236 had adequate knowledge and 286 reported adequate prevention practices. The multivariate analysis showed that caregivers aged 25 years and over with a schooling of five or more years have a higher prevalence of adequate knowledge and practices.

Conclusions:

The age and educational level of caregivers is associated with knowledge of appropriate practices for preventing and controlling acute respiratory infections. These findings guide the focus of education on young carers with a lower level of education, recommendations considered in the promotion of the Comprehensive Health Care Model in Colombia’s health route.

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