Morbidity and Mortality Rates Among Children Aged 0-59 Months

Morbidity and Mortality Rates Among Children Aged 0-59 Months: A Cross-sectional Study From Mogadishu, Somalia

This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the patterns of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age in the population served by Kalkaal Hospital. Researchers analyzed 2023 data from the hospital's electronic medical records and administrative databases to identify the most common pediatric diagnoses and causes of illness and death in this community.

This study investigated the patterns of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age in the population served by Kalkaal Hospital. The specific objectives were to:

Identify the most common diagnoses and causes of illness and death in the under-5 population presenting to Kalkaal Hospital.

Analyze demographic factors (e.g. age, sex) associated with certain disease profiles and health outcomes.

Evaluate treatment practices, health service utilization, and mortality rates for the key pediatric health issues identified.

Provide a comprehensive epidemiological assessment of the burden of childhood illness and mortality in this local community.

Methods:

This was a retrospective, observational study that analyzed 2023 data from the electronic medical records and administrative databases of Kalkaal Hospital. The researchers extracted and analyzed the following data:

Outpatient department records: Diagnoses, treatments, patient demographics Inpatient admission records: Admission diagnoses, treatments, patient outcomes (discharged, transferred, died) Mortality records: Causes of death for pediatric patients The data was cleaned, coded, and analyzed using statistical software. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterize the morbidity and mortality patterns. Regression analyses were conducted to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with key health outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children aged 0-59 months who were admitted to Kalkaal Hospital during the specified study period.

2. Medical records with complete and adequate information regarding age, gender, presenting symptoms, and diagnoses.

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Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children outside the age range of 0-59 months.
2. Medical records with missing or incomplete information necessary for the analysis.
3. Children admitted to Kalkaal Hospital for reasons unrelated to the study objectives (adult patients, non-pediatric cases).