Changing patterns in pediatric mortality, Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique, 1980-1990

To present an analysis of the Department of Paediatrics' statistics on hospital mortality, covering the period through 1980-1990.

Basic information was recollected from logbooks of the Department's wards. Descriptive statistics are estimated on death and its main causes. The proportion of deaths in relation to total admissions and in relation to global in-hospital mortality are computed and their changes over time documented.

The data show an important decrease of in-hospital global mortality in spite of the increase of the number of admissions over time. The pattern of the main causes of death changed, and the authors postulate that the change is attributed to a dramatic change in the epidemiological pattern of childhood morbidity in Maputo City, especially due to measles vaccination. In parallel, the study suggests an increase in the prevalence of severe malnutrition.

Hospital statistics, while dependent on socio-economic conditions, can be significantly changed by Public Health interventions. Monitoring and analysing hospital statistics is important for documenting epidemiological changes, and also to suggest community interventions. From that point of view, epidemiological surveillance and hospital statistics are complementary.