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Hospitalized infant morbidity in the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children Project

Vorasith Sornsrivichai1, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Ladda Mo-suwan

  • 1Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Hat Yai, Thailand. vorasith@msn.com

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet
|August 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infant morbidity in Thailand is high, with perinatal conditions, respiratory diseases, pneumonia, and diarrhea being major causes. These conditions require further prevention and control efforts to reduce the burden on healthcare resources.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Infant morbidity represents a significant healthcare resource burden.
  • The specific patterns and magnitude of infant morbidity in developing countries remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and patterns of hospitalized infant morbidity.
  • To identify the leading causes of infant illness and their impact on hospital stay in rural Thailand.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving 2,739 children over one year in rural Thailand.
  • Detection and classification of hospitalized infant morbidity.

Main Results:

  • The overall incidence of infant morbidity was 454.9 per 1,000 live births.
  • Top morbidities included perinatal conditions (88.7/1,000), respiratory diseases (35.4/1,000), pneumonia (34.3/1,000), and infectious diarrhea (30.3/1,000).
  • These conditions accounted for 76.6% of total hospital stay days, with 34.8% occurring in the early neonatal period.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal conditions in the early neonatal period and pneumonia/diarrhea in the post-neonatal period are significant health concerns.
  • Effective prevention and control strategies are crucial to mitigate infant morbidity.
  • The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in developing regions.
Abstract

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