Morbidity and mortality of children at the pediatrics department of Nianankoro Fomba hospital of Segou

Abstract

Introduction: Developing countries face many challenges in the area of health. Objective: This work aimed to study the morbidity and mortality of children from 1 month to 15 years hospitalized in the pediatric department of the Nianankoro Fomba hospital in Segou. Material and Methods: Our study took place from January 1 to December 31, 2016 in the Pediatric Department of the Nianankoro Fomba Hospital. It was a retrospective, descriptive study. All hospitalized children from 1 month to 15 years were included. Results: We included 862 children from 1 month to 15 years. 70.10% of patients were under 5 years of age. Boys accounted for 60.30%. The majority of patients (75.90%) resided in the Segou health district. The main diagnoses found were malaria (53.20%), severe acute malnutrition with complications (17.90%) and acute respiratory infections (10.20%). Cured patients accounted for 86.08% and the death rate was 6.61%. The majority of the patients who died were boys (57.89%). The three main causes of death were severe malaria (42.10%), severe acute malnutrition with complications (35.09%) and severe sepsis (7.02%) and deaths were among children under 5 years of age (71.93%). Conclusion: Morbidity and mortality in pediatrics remain a concern in our structures despite efforts. However, the causes are preventable by behavioural change at all levels.

Key words: Morbidity, Mortality, Children, Segou.