Provinces with the Highest Prevalence of Childhood ISPA (Acute Respiratory Infection) in 2023: Central Papua Tops the List

Based on the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (Survei Kesehatan Indonesia or SKI) report from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), the prevalence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) or ISPA diagnosed by doctors in Indonesian toddlers was 4.8% in 2023.

Broken down by region, Central Papua had the highest prevalence of toddlers with ISPA, at 11.8%, significantly above the national average.

This was followed by the Papua Mountains region with a 10.7% proportion of toddlers with ISPA, East Java with 8.8%, and Banten with 8.7%.

Meanwhile, the lowest prevalence of ISPA in toddlers was in West Sulawesi and South Sulawesi, at 0.67% and 0.79%, respectively.

The following is a list of the 10 provinces with the highest national prevalence of ISPA in toddlers based on healthcare worker diagnoses in 2023:

1. Central Papua: 11.8%
2. Papua Mountains: 10.7%
3. East Java: 8.8%
4. Banten: 8.7%
5. Papua: 8.1%
6. Central Java: 6.7%
7. Bali: 6.64%
8. East Nusa Tenggara: 6.48%
9. Jakarta: 6%
10. South Papua: 5.8%

According to the Kemenkes website, ISPA is often cited as one of the top 10 diseases in developing countries affecting infants and young children, including Indonesia.

ISPA is caused by 300 types of bacteria and viruses, some of which are streptococcus, staphylococcus, and pneumococcus. Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, and fever.

These symptoms usually appear three days after exposure and last between 7-10 days. The Kemenkes states that ISPA can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle, maintaining environmental hygiene, and using masks when exposed to dust.