Pattern of Childhood Mortality at Benghazi Children Hospital

Ainas Salem Eltarhuni; Jebril S. El-Abidi; Hajir Omar Tawfeeq

doi:10.5281/zenodo.13933294

Ainas Salem Eltarhuni Department of Health Services Administration, Faculty of Public Health, University of Benghazi, Libya.
Jebril S. El-Abidi Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Libya.
Hajir Omar Tawfeeq Faculty of Public Health, BenghaziChildren Hospital, Libya.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13933294

Keywords: causes of death, child mortality, Libya, mortality pattern, under 5 years death

Abstract

الملخص:

تعتبر وفيات الأطفال مصدر قلق كبير للصحة العامة، وخاصة في البلدان النامية. وهو أحد أهم مؤشرات التنمية وعامل في تحديد متوسط العمر المتوقع.الهدف: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على نمط وأسباب وفيات الأطفال في المستشفى العام (مستشفى الأطفال بنغازي) على مدى 3 سنوات.طرق البحث: أجريت دراسة بأثر رجعي في مستشفى الأطفال بنغازي على مدى ثلاث سنوات (يناير 2018 - ديسمبر 2020). تم جمع البيانات من السجلات الطبية للرضع والأطفال (الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين شهر واحد إلى 16 سنة) الذين توفوا في المستشفى المستهدف. وتم استعراض التفاصيل الديموغرافية والأسباب الرئيسية للوفيات.النتائج: تم تسجيل إجمالي 691 حالة وفاة خلال فترة الدراسة، أي بمعدل وفيات قدره 1.4%. وشكل الذكور 353 (51.1%) والإناث 338 (48.9%). وكان معدل الوفيات في الغالب في الفئة العمرية أقل من سنة واحدة (58.7٪). وكانت الأمراض المعدية (21.7%) والجهاز العصبي (19.8%) والجهاز التنفسي (19.4%) هي الأسباب الجوهرية الأكثر شيوعاً للوفيات. وكانت الأسباب الخارجية مسؤولة عن أقل عدد من الوفيات. وكان الالتهاب الرئوي هو السبب المباشر الرئيسي لوفيات الأطفال في المستشفيات من جميع الأعمار.الخلاصة: تمثل الأمراض المعدية السبب الأكثر شيوعاً لوفيات الأطفال. ويلزم بذل جهود خاصة (وقائية وعلاجية) لمكافحة خطر وفيات الأطفال.

الكلمات المفتاحية: أسباب الوفاة، وفيات الأطفال، ليبيا، نمط الوفيات، وفيات الأطفال دون سن 5 سنوات^.

Abstract

Children mortality is a major public health concern, particularly in developing countries. It is one of the most important indicators of development and a factor in determining life expectancy. It can also inform health services policy makers about matters to prioritize. This study aimed to identify the pattern and causes of childhood mortality in a tertiary public hospital (Benghazi Children Hospital) over a 3- year period. Retrospective study was undertaken at the Benghazi Children Hospital over a three-year period (January 2018-December 2020). Data was gathered from the medical records of infant and children (aged 1 month to 16 years) of age that died in the Benghazi Children Hospital. Demographic details and the main causes of deaths were reviewed.The result of this study indicated that, atotal of 691 mortalities were recorded during the study period, giving a mortality rate of 1.4%. Males constituted 353 (51.1%) and females constituted 338 (48.9%). The mortality rate was the highest in the age group of less than 1 year (58.7%).Infectious diseases (21.7%), nervous system disorders (19.8%) and disease of the respiratory system (19.4%) were the most common intrinsic causes of deaths. Extrinsic causes were responsible for smaller number of deaths (1.2%).Pneumonia was the leading immediate cause of deaths in hospitalized children among all ages.

Study results concluded that infectious diseases represented as the most common systemic cause of child mortality. Special efforts (preventive and curative) to combat the risk of childhood mortality are needed.

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