Introduction: Ingestion of foreign bodies (FBs) is an emergency condition which may be associated with challenges for their removal. We aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with hypopharyngo-esophageal foreign bodies (HP-EFBs) impaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mulago national referral hospital in Uganda from August 2018 to May 2019. The study consisted of 150 patients aged 6 months to 49 years with suspicion of HP-EFBs impaction. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to determine factors associated with HP-EFBs. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The median age of the patients was 7.1 (4.3–16.4) years, and males accounted for the majority (64%, n = 96) of the patients. Clinically, majority (62.0%, n = 93) of the patients had dysphagia. The prevalence of HP-EFBs was (33.3%, n = 50). Majority (76.0%, n = 38) of the FBs were coins. Being aged ≤5 years (aOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 2.18–3.39, P = 0.043), being a child attending school (aOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.56–4.92, P = 0.037), and being under caretakers aged ≤25 years (aOR = 6.83, 95% CI = 1.88–24.79), P = 0.003) were associated with increased risk of HP-EFBs impaction. Conclusion: This study has shown increased risk of HP-EFBs impaction particularly in male children and those attending school. Also, patients who were under younger caretakers had increased odds of HP-EFBs impaction. There is a need for caretakers and teachers at school to provide emphasis for children to always have precaution to avoid impaction of FBs.
Kabazzi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.