Journal Article > Research

Causes of pediatric mortality and case-fatality rates in eight Médecins Sans Frontières-supported hospitals in Africa

Download
Download
Abstract
SETTING
Eight pediatric hospital in-patient wards in remote, rural and/or insecure areas in Africa.

OBJECTIVES
To describe, in children aged <5 years, 1) overall and individual mortality rates, 2) the 10 most common causes of mortality, and 3) their case-fatality rates.

DESIGN
Retrospective analysis of routinely collected standardized program data for 2010.

RESULTS
During 2010, 21 357 children aged <5 years were admitted and 1520 died, resulting in an overall in-patient mortality rate among under-fives of 7%. This remained the same after considering the three most common causes of mortality per hospital. One hospital with a neonatal unit showed a mortality rate of 14%. Of the 10 most common causes of mortality in the eight hospitals, severe malaria, acute lower respiratory tract infection and neonatal infection counted for about 77% of total deaths. Ranking the 10 most common causes of mortality according to case-fatality rates, septicemia, meningitis, low birth weight with pathology, neonatal infection and neonatal asphyxia were the most common (case-fatality rates 15-40%).

CONCLUSION
Despite widely different contexts, mortality rates for pediatric in-patients were consistently under 10%. To further reduce mortality, emphasis should be placed on treating sepsis and introducing implementable and/or adapted care packages for neonatal-related pathologies.
Subject Area
Published Date
04-Dec-2012
PubMed ID
26392968
Languages
English
Volume / Issue / Pages
Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 117-21
Issue Date
21-Dec-2012
Dimensions Badge