title: Paediatric dialysis services in Nigeria: availability, distribution and challenges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dialysis provides relief of complications of renal failure. However, the availability, distribution and challenges facing paediatric dialysis service (PDS) in Nigeria are presently unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were mailed to federal government-funded tertiary hospitals in all 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The characteristics of hospitals providing PDS were compared to those not providing PDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four (34) tertiary hospitals in 31 States and the FCT participated in the study: 28 (82.4%), 22 (64.7%) and 12 (35.3%) had >1000 paediatric admissions per year, >50 paediatric beds and >10 paediatricians respectively. Sixteen (47.1%) provided at least one form of PDS; 2 (12.5%), 5 (31.3%) and 9 (56.3%) hospitals provided peritoneal dialysis (PD), haemodialysis (HD) and both forms, respectively. Centres providing PDS were more likely to be teaching hospitals (p value=0.000), had >10 paediatricians (p value=0.016) and provided dialysis to adults (p value=0.000). Lack of consumables, skilled manpower and high cost were common challenges identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDS is unavailable in about half of Nigeria. HD is the commonest modality available and most of the hospitals providing PDS are the large hospitals. Common challenges to PDS were lack of dialysis consumables, skilled manpower and high cost.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: C I
authors: CI
authors: Esezobor
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Oniyangi
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Eke
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009549:Nigeria; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*