Determinants of mortality among pediatric patients admitted to Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital with acute bacterial meningitis, Southern Ethiopia: an unmatched case–control study

Abstract

Abstract Background People of all ages suffer from acute bacterial meningitis, but children are the most vulnerable, accounting for over 50% of all cases and deaths in children under the age of five. It is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and long-term suffering worldwide. Children are at great risk of disease and mortality due to a lack of specific immunity associated with their young age. As a result, determinants of death were found among pediatric patients treated with acute bacterial meningitis at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based unmatched case–control study was conducted on pediatric patients admitted with acute bacterial meningitis at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022. A total of 355 (71 cases and 284 controls) pediatric medical charts were used for data extraction using a preestablished checklist. Data were checked for completeness and consistency, entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 software, and transported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent determinants of acute bacterial meningitis mortality at a P value of = 6) with a history of initial antibiotic change, malnutrition, more than one comorbidity, and worse clinical characteristics were related to greater death due to acute bacterial mortality in this study.

Keywords

• Acute bacterial meningitis
• Mortality
• Pediatrics
• Wolaita
• Ethiopia