The pediatric admission pattern analysis and outcome in the emergency unit at al-Salam hospital, Sadah, Yemen

Abstract EN

Objective : This is the first study at Al Salam Hospital, Sadah (ASHS) Yemen.

The aim of the study is to know the pediatric admission analysis pattern and outcome in the emergency care unit at this hospital.

Methods : A descriptive observational study was conducted in emergency care unit of Al Salam Hospital, Sadah (ASHS) from 30 August 2014 till 31 August 2015, involving 24502 patients, aged from one month to 15 years.

Detailed data regarding age, sex, duration in the hospital and causes of admission were collected.

Results : Of 24502 patients seen in the hospital, 10535 (43 %) were admitted to the emergency ward.

Their ages ranged from 1 month to 15 years, with a mean age of 36.3 months.

More boys were admitted, with a male to female ratio of 1.4 : 1.

The majority of patients (8313, 78.9 %) were aged < 5 years.

The mean duration of stay was 2.2 days.

The major causes of admission were respiratory tract infections (3371, 32.0%), diarrheal disease (2339, 22.2 %), protein-energy malnutrition (969, 9.2 %), and infections (septicemia, meningitis, measles and tetanus) (885, 8.4 %).

The peak admissions period and mortality were in the months of January, May and December.

Following assessment in the emergency unit, 4793 children were transferred to the pediatric unit, 4256 were discharged, 568 were discharged against medical advice and 116 were referred elsewhere.

Over this period, 801 children died, giving a mortality rate of 7.6 %.

Conclusions : The majority of the patients were boys and with age ranging < 5 years.

The infectious diseases (acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, septicemia, meningitis and tetanus) were the major causes of childhood admissions in our study.

Therefore; more intensified efforts and health education to prevent and control infections in the northern region of Yemen, in order to reduce our child morbidity and mortality were needed.