Mortality pattern in the Emergency Paediatric Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Three hundred and seven (307) deaths were recorded out of 3,155 admissions into the Emergency Paediatric Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria between January 1st and December 31st 1986, giving a percentage mortality of 9.9 percent. 67 percent of the patients who died were aged between one month and twenty four months, and the overall male: female ratio of deaths was 1:1.04. Measles with complications was the commonest cause of death (24.1 percent) closely followed by protein energy malnutrition (23 percent) and respiratory tract infection (18 percent). Over half of the patients (57.6 percent) died less than 24 hours after admission. As most deaths resulted from preventable conditions, the implications of this finding, and suggestions on how to improve the situation are discussed.

PIP: 307 deaths were recorded out of 3155 admissions to the Emergency Pediatric Unit of Ahamdu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaira, Nigeria between January 1st and December 31st, 1986. This was 9.9% of the total admissions. The male-female death ratio was 1:1.04 about the same as the total male-female admissions ratio (1:1.02). The least % mortality is in the 4th quarter of the year; it rises to a peak between July and September. 67% of the patients who died were between 1 and 24 months of age. Measles with complications was the most common cause of death (74 deaths, 24.1%), closely followed by protein energy malnutrition (23%), and respiratory tract infection (18%). Over 1/2 the patients died 24 hours after admission. Most deaths resulted from preventable conditions, such as measles which is preventable by vaccination. A need for programs like the Nigerian government's expanded program on immunization and oral rehydration therapy exists. The Nigerian government has set up a directorate of food, roads, and rural infrastructure to improve the living standard of its rural population. 2 of its aims are to provide abundant food and good drinking water. The government has also started a mass mobilization program.