Sahel Medical Journal (Jan 2010)
Proceedings and abstract of the 2 nd annual scientific conference of nigerian medical association sokoto state branch held in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: About 12.9 million children under the age of 5 years die annually from diseases in which 63% are preventable and easily treated. This study determines the major causes of morbidity and mortality of the children admitted into EPU, UDUTH, Sokoto over a year period and identify the strategy for reducing childhood mortality. Method: The register of admitted cases into EPU over a 1-year period (1 st June 2009 to 31 st May 2010) was reviewed and analyzed. Extracted from the register, were age, gender, diagnosis, outcome and causes of deaths. Results. There were a total of 1,900 admissions made up of 1,081 (56.9%) males and 819(43.1%) females (male: female=1:3:1) during the study period.. Those aged 5 years and below were 1, 489 (78.4%) while the remaining 411(21.6%) were aged above 5 years. The main causes of morbidity were malaria 520 (26.8%), sickle cell disease 269 (14.2%), protein energy malnutrition (PEM), 209 (11.0%), diarrhea disease 192(10.1%), pneumonia 157 (8.3%) and vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) 153 (8.1%). Of the 1,900 cases that were admitted, 131 (6.9%) died. The major causes of deaths were malaria 32(24.4%), VPD 23(17.6%), pneumonia 13(9.9%), neonatal secpticaemia 13(9.9%), diarrhoea 11 (8.4%) and PEM 10(7.6%). Conclusion: The major causes of childhood mortality in this environment are preventable. Strong political will by the governments is recommended to produce positive effect and ensure realisation of the 2015 target of MDGs.
