TITLE:
Morbidity and Mortality in the Emergency Department of the Albert Royer National Children’s Hospital Center Dakar: Prospective Study from January 1 to April 30, 2020
AUTHORS:
Hilaire Lisimo Abwa, Halladin Mansoj, Alioune Thiogane, Mf Faye, Feza Muhemerie, Yvette Kpakpo Nyange, Patient Kapambu, Joel Djunguluka, Erick Albert Kombo
KEYWORDS:
Morbidity, Mortality, Emergencies, Infant and Juvenile
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
7,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Infant and child morbidity and mortality constitute a public health problem in Africa, particularly in Senegal. The objective of this work was to help identify the determinants this morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: A prospective study, over a 4-month period (January to April 2020). All patients aged 0 to 15 years, hospitalized for emergency reasons in the Albert Royer emergency department, were included. Mortality was analyzed according to sociodemographic data, the patient’s itinerary, transfer procedures, availability of emergency medications, diagnosis made during hospitalization and causes of death. The data were collected based on a protocol in an established file and analyzed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Science Social) software. Version 18. Results: 225 children in emergency situations were included. The age of our patients is between 0 and 15 years (minimum 0.23 months, maximum 191 months, average 47 months and standard deviation 54). Thus, emergencies represented 57.98% of the 388 hospitalizations. Seventy percent of patients were less than 60 months old with a male predominance (sex ratio 1.16), 2.22% were newborns and 27.11% were aged between 60 and 191 months). A total of 79 (35.1%) were transferred and only 57.4% received care before transfer. A total of 12 deaths were reported, representing a lethality of 5.3%. Only young age (less than 59 months, a mortality rate of 91.7%), cardiac decompensations, severe sepsis, and neonatal conditions were more associated with mortality. The majority of our deceased patients came from families with a low socio-economic level (83.3%). Conclusion: Pediatric emergencies are frequent and responsible for lethality and require the necessary efforts, particularly through parent education, the creation of emergency outpatient care units and, above all, the strengthening of the technical platform and therapeutic means.