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

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) 1994-02, Vol.40 (1), p.54-57
• Main Authors: Gamatie, Y., Prual, A., Wollo, J., Huguet, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cause of Death; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Follow-Up Studies; Hospital Departments; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals, General - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Multivariate Analysis; Niger; Pediatrics; Risk Factors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0142-6338; 1465-3664
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/40.1.54

Summary 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 b 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 isdiscussed.