ADMISSION PATTERNS AND OUTCOMES OF YOUNG INFANT IN RESOURCE DEFICIENT HOSPITALS

Abstract

To calculate incidence of admission and mortality pattern in admitted young infants and to identify measures to assess and evaluate performance to the existing hospital services to improve facilities and inpatient care. This was a
descriptive study (Longitudinal hospital based study) in Paediatric Department, Misurata teaching hospital, from
January 2012-December 2012. All hospital admissions, of young infant who presented to paediatric department with
clinical symptoms justifies admission are included in the study. Sick infants were routinely investigated according to
a standard protocol. The clinical care during admission was supervised by a consultant paediatrician who was also
responsible for assessment and assigning the final diagnosis at the end of the admission after review of the case
notes and the results of all relevant investigations. There were a total of 384 young infant admitted into the paediatric department during the study period. Thirty four infant deaths were recorded (8.9%) from the total young infant
admitted during this study. Presumed serious infections were the commonest cause of admission among infants <2
months of age (41%), followed by Pneumonia (aged 30–59 days) at 30.7% from total admission of young infants.
Mortality in severe infection was 12.6% from total admitted cases of this group but account for 58.8% from total
mortality in young infant. our data suggest that strategies to tackle the problem of infection in young infant by prevent or treat infection may be of great benefit if we consider value of community based diagnosis and care. I believe
that the discussion of mortality cases provides an adequate means of changing practice patterns which needed to
reduce the mortality in young infant.