Mortality pattern among Nigerian children in the 1980s

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Child mortality remains a significant public health concern in many developing nations.
• Understanding the specific causes and patterns of paediatric deaths is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the mortality patterns and causes of death among paediatric admissions at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
• To identify the leading causes of death across different paediatric age groups.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing paediatric death records.
• Data collected over a 4-year period (January 1984–December 1987).
• Mortality rates calculated per 1000 paediatric admissions.

Main Results:

• Overall paediatric mortality was 80 per 1000 admissions.
• Neonates constituted the majority of deaths (47%), with significantly lower mortality in older children (7%).
• Key causes included neonatal tetanus, low birthweight, birth asphyxia, malnutrition, pneumonia, measles, and anaemia.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal tetanus and malnutrition were the primary drivers of overall paediatric mortality.
• Interventions targeting neonatal care and nutritional support are critical for reducing child deaths.