Are pediatric wards in developing countries only places to die? A study of prior to hospitalization risk factors of death among 0-2 year old hospitalized children in Niamey, capital of Niger.
The 461 0-2-year-old children admitted to the paediatric ward of the National Hospital in Niamey over a 2-month period were closely followed up from admission to discharge or death. The in-hospital mortality rate was 30 per cent, a great proportion of deaths occurring during the first 24 h of hospitalization. Malnutrition was highly prevalent (76 per cent). Children referred from other health facilities (72 per cent) did not experience a higher probability of survival. Using multivariate analysis, three variables remained significantly associated with death: nutritional status, consultation of a traditional practitioner, and a neonate disease. Neonate diseases are the third major cause of death because of a high case fatality rate. For the other causes, the main underlying factor is malnutrition. Most in-hospital deaths are due to events that occurred prior to hospitalization. The role of hospitals' pediatric wards of developing countries is discussed.
Gamatie
Y
Y
Service de Pédiatrie, Hopital National, Niamey, Niger.
Prual
A
A
Wollo
J
J
Huguet
D
D
D002423:Cause of Death; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006748:Hospital Departments; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009548:Niger; D010372:Pediatrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors