Title: Mortality Pattern among Hospitalized Children (29 Days to 12 Years) At a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India
Authors: Dr D.M. Deenadayalan, Dr E.Theranirajan, Dr P. Sangeetha, Dr R. Srinivasan, Reka.K
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.164
Abstract
Introduction: Mortality of children is the prime indicator of country’s health status and its development. Understanding the child mortality among different age groups is one of the valuable public health insights. Therefore, studies regarding the child mortality pattern are essential for re-evaluating the existing health services. This study was aimed to evaluate the mortality pattern of hospitalized children in the age group of 29 days to 12 yrs in a tertiary care hospital in Vellore.
Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was done with the medical records of Pediatric patients (29 days to 12 years) died in the Pediatrics department of Government Medical College and Hospital, Vellore from 1st Jan2016 to 31st Dec 2016.
Results: Overall Childhood mortality was found to be2.5% from this study. Among the 91 children died, most number of deaths occurred in the Post neonatal (29 days to 1 year) age group (67%). Mortality rate was higher in girls (52.7%) thanin boys (47.3%) in 1-4 year age group in this study. Septicemia (23.1%), ARI (20.9%) and Meningitis (19.8%) were the three commonest causes of childhood mortality. 58.3% of the deaths were occurred within 48 hours after hospitalization of the child.
Conclusion: Present study of childhood mortality pattern suggests that we are in need of strengthening and re-evaluating the existing health care systems to combat the three leading causes of childhood death.
Keywords: Mortality pattern, children, Septicemia, ARI - Acute respiratory infection, Health care, Medical records.
Dr D.M. Deenadayalan
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Government Medical College – Vellore
