Sociodemographic Determinants of Mortality in Hospitalized Under-Five Children at a Secondary Health Care Centre in the Niger Delta

Aims: To determine the socio-demographic factors associated with mortality in hospitalized under-5 children in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric unit of Mariere Memorial Central Hospital Ughelli, Nigeria between October 2011 and February 2012.
Methodology: All inpatients aged 29 days to ≤ 60 months who met the inclusion criteria were consecutively enrolled and information on a range of demographic and clinical factors obtained using a structured questionnaire. The primary outcome variable was mortality. Data was coded and analysed using SPSS version 16 software.
Results: Of the 600 children recruited for the study, 345(57.5%) were males while 255(42.5%) females. The case fatality rate was 51(8.5%). Significant risk factors associated with mortality were maternal age >30 years (p=0.001), low maternal educational status (0.001), lower socioeconomic class (p=0.006), late presentation (p=0.004). However, multiple logistic regression analysis showed late presentation to be the strongest determinant of mortality. ((OR=4.83, 95%CI: 1.458 to 15.993, p=0.01).
Conclusion: Social factors play a significant role in the eventual health outcomes in hospitalized under-5 children with late presentation being the strongest predictor of mortality. Effort should therefore be made at creating awareness on seeking early treatment for childhood illnesses in recognized hospitals.