Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025
A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
Review of Childhood Mortality Pattern at the Paediatric Unit of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria
O Adaje1, E O Adeyemi1, A Oladele1
1Department of Paediatrics, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti. Email: aoadaje@yahoo.com, Tel: +2348035741951.
Insights
Childhood mortality in Nigeria remains high, with sepsis and malaria being leading causes of death in under-5s. Strengthening preventive measures is crucial for child survival strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood mortality rates in developing countries, particularly Nigeria, show minimal improvement.
- Understanding the primary causes of childhood morbidity is essential for effective child survival programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze childhood mortality patterns in the emergency room of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patient records (September 2017 - October 2022) from the Children Emergency Room at FETHI.
- Data extracted included age, sex, diagnosis, and duration of hospital stay prior to death.
- Statistical significance was determined using a p-value of <0.05.
Main Results:
- A total of 2503 admissions were recorded, with a male to female ratio of 1.25:1.
- The overall mortality rate was 3.9%, with no significant difference in age at demise based on sex (p=0.33).
- Sepsis and malaria were identified as the leading causes of death, with 68% of deaths occurring in children under 5 years old, often within 6 to 72 hours of admission.
Conclusions:
- High mortality rates among children under 5, particularly from preventable causes like sepsis and malaria, highlight the urgent need to enhance existing child preventive health measures.
- Effective child survival strategies require a focus on addressing the major determinants of childhood morbidity and mortality.
Background:
The vital statistics in the third world countries are poor and have witnessed minimal improvement over the years with childhood mortality in Nigeria remaining one of the highest among the developing countries despite various child survival programmes. Child survival strategies can only be efficient if the major reasons for morbidity are known. The objective of this retrospective study was to review the patterns of childhood mortality at the emergency room of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI).
Materials And Methods:
This study was conducted at the Children Emergency room of FETHI. Admission, discharge records and the case notes of the patients who died from September 2017 to October 2022 at the emergency units were retrospectively reviewed to extract the data on the age, sex, diagnosis, and duration of stay on admission before demise. A p-value of <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.
Results:
There was a total of 2503 admissions with a M: F ratio of 1.25:1. The mortality rate was 3.9%. Age at demise was independent of the sex of the patients with a p-value of 0.33. More deaths occurred within six to 72 hours on admission and 68% of deaths in the EPU were U-5. Sepsis and malaria were the leading causes of death.
Conclusions:
The high incidence of mortality among under-5 largely from preventable causes of death stresses the need to strengthen the existing childhood preventive measures.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:15Nursing Evaluation
01:20Actuarial Approach
Consider the example of a high-risk surgical procedure with significant early-stage mortality. A two-year clinical study is conducted,...