Author(s)

Daniele Kedy Koum^1,2,3*, Calixte Ida Penda¹, Laurent Mireille Endale^4,5, Henri Essome^6,7, Christiana Mpongo Moukongo¹, Loick Pradel Kojom Foko⁸, Cecile Okalla Ebongue⁹, Diomede Noukeu², Dominique Enyama², Charlotte Eposse¹, Mbono Rhita¹, Patricia Epée Eboumbou¹, Emile Telesphore Mboudou¹⁰, Paul Koki Ndombo^11,12

¹Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Pediatrics, Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
³Deido District Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁶Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁷Department of Gynecology, Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁸Department of Animal Organism Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁹Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
¹⁰Department of Gynecology, Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
¹¹Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
¹²Chantal Biya Foundation, Mother-Child Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: Children and adolescent mortality remains a public health concern in developing countries. This study aimed to describe risk factors and aetiologies of mortality among children and young adolescents at a tertiary hospital in the town of Douala, Cameroon. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study from January 1^st to May 31^st, 2019 among deceased patients aged 1 month to 15 years admitted to the paediatric ward of the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital. Data of interest were collected and analysed. Results: Out of 3088 children admitted, 123 death cases were recorded. The overall hospital mortality rate was 3.98%. Females accounted for 51% of the deceased patients. Fever was the main reason for consultation. Severe malaria was the most common diagnosis. In univariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with mortality included hyperthermia (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.80 - 1.33; p = 0.012), coma/impaired consciousness (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.10 - 0.88; p = 0.029), pneumonia (OR = 3.95; 95% CI 1.42 - 10.97; p = 0.008), antipyretic therapy (OR = 0.28; 95% CI 0.11 - 0.73; p = 0.009), and no medication (OR = 4.50; 95% CI 1.05 - 9.29; p = 0.043). In multivariate regression analysis, coma/impaired consciousness was found to be the only factor associated with mortality (OR = 6.24; 95% CI 1.15 - 33.73; p = 0.034). Conclusion: The present study reveals that most of death cases were due to preventable causes, especially infectious diseases. Efficient reduction in children and adolescent mortality could be achieved by adequately addressing these causes.

Children, Young Adolescents, Mortality, Aetiologies, Risk Factors, Cameroon

Koum, D. , Penda, C. , Endale, L. , Essome, H. , Moukongo, C. , Foko, L. , Ebongue, C. , Noukeu, D. , Enyama, D. , Eposse, C. , Rhita, M. , Eboumbou, P. , Mboudou, E. and Ndombo, P. (2021) Paediatric Mortality: Aetiologies and Predictors among Children Aged 1 Month to 15 Years in a Tertiary Hospital in Douala, Cameroon. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 11, 360-378. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2021.113033.