Review of Paediatric Mortality in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric mortality is a cause for serious concern particularly in resource-poor countries all over the world. Indeed it was estimated that in 2010, about 99% of the 7.7 million death of children globally occurred in low to medium income countries (LMIC) including Nigeria. Furthermore a Global Health Observatory study in some LMICs suggests 26% of pediatric death involves neonates. This study provides data of pediatric mortality from a tertiary hospital in Abuja the capital of Nigeria. SETTING: National Hospital Abuja (NHA) is a 450-bedded tertiary public hospital located in the cosmopolitan city of Abuja the capital of Nigeria. The hospital also anchors the National Trauma and National Radiotherapy centers. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study involving all admissions for patient of neonatal to 15-year age extending from 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2017. RESULT: Pediatric mortality accounts for 4.9% of 14,690 pediatric admissions with a 1.3:1 male-female ratio. Most mortality (69%) occurred within the first 4 days of hospital admission and the most vulnerable age group is the neonatal age group (67%). The commonest causes of death in neonates are prematurity (21.9%), neonatal jaundice (6.1%) and congenital malformations (5.3%). Pediatric autopsy rate stands at an abysmal 6.5%. CONCLUSION: Pediatric mortality is high in NHA and involves predominantly neonates.