ABSTRACT:
Pneumonia is an acute inflammatory condition that affects the lungs' alveoli, leading to the accumulation of pus and impaired tissue function. This study aimed to identify factors influencing recovery time among pneumonia patients aged 2–59 months. Conducted retrospectively between September 2021 and August 2023 at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, data were analyzed using R software (v4.4.1) with Kaplan-Meier, Log-Rank tests, Cox Proportional-Hazards, and Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) models. Out of 432 patients, 345 (79.8%) experienced events, while 87 (20.2%) were censored, with a median recovery time of 4 days. Findings from the Weibull regression model revealed that patients with para-pneumonic effusion had an 18% slower recovery (γ = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.66–0.78, p<0.001). Patients with diarrhea recovered 16% slower (γ = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76–0.93, p = 0.001), while those with comorbidities had a 33% slower recovery rate (γ = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.60–0.96, p < 0.02). Similarly, patients presenting with danger signs recovered 15% slower (γ=0.85, 95% CI: 0.79–0.92, p<0.001). Additionally, children aged 2–12 months recovered 12% faster compared to those aged 12–59 months (γ = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.79–0.97, p = 0.12). These findings underscore the need for health policymakers, hospitals, and stakeholders to prioritize under-five pneumonia patients, particularly those presenting with these risk factors, to improve recovery outcomes.