Author(s)

Bogning Mejiozem Brice Olivier^1*, Kombaya Koyangboi Rostand Le Juste¹, Fanny Diane Fiobeme¹, Dama-Ngouamou Josiane¹, Gody Jean Chrysostome^1,2

¹Centre Hospitalier universitaire pédiatrique de Bangui, Bangui, CAR.
²Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Bangui, Bangui, CAR.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, one in 13 children died before their fifth birthday. Objective: To study mortality among children hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the CHUPB. Methodology: This was a retrospective, descriptive study over a 12-month period. Included were children aged 1 month to 15 years hospitalized in the intensive care unit and who died during the period. The data were entered and analyzed through the Epi Info software. The statistical test used was Pearson’s chi². Results: The overall mortality rate was 21.49%. The sex ratio was 1.14 and the mean age was 3.17 ± 2.21 years. Children < 5 years of age accounted for 78.49% (n = 197) of cases. Deaths were more frequent in January, April and December. The mean time to consultation was 6.91 ± 1.8 days. Fever 78.48% (n = 197), diarrhea/vomiting 35.45% (n = 89) and convulsions 26.29% (n = 66) were the main reasons for consultation. Prior to admission, treatment was administered in 73.38% (n = 184) of children. The main diagnoses of death were: septic shock 29.08% (n = 73), hypovolemic shock post AEG 17.13% (n = 43), severe malaria 10.76% (n = 27) and meningitis 6.38% (n = 16). Death was early in 66.53% (n = 167) of cases. It was influenced by male sex, origin of residence, rural residence, herbal medicine and the occurrence of deaths during the shifts after 16 hours. Conclusion: Mortality in pediatrics remains a concern in our practice. It is related to conditions that are mostly preventable by vaccination, information, education and communication.

Mortality, Child, Intensive Care Unit, CHUPB

Olivier, B. , Le Juste, K. , Fiobeme, F. , Josiane, D. and Chrysostome, G. (2023) Mortality of Children in the Intensive Care Unit of the Pediatric University Hospital of Bangui. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 13, 408-423. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2023.133045.