Abstract:

Background Information: Globally, there has been remarkable progress in child survival over the past three decades. In 2019 the world has recorded the lowest underfive mortality of 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990. Despite these achievements Sub Saharan Africa contributes more than 80% of these deaths. In Tanzania the mortality rate of children below 5 years is still 1.7 higher than the world average, and little is known about the mortality of children above five years of age. This study was designed to determine the prevalence, causes and factors associated with mortality in children aged 2 months to 12 years.

Objective: Assessing the prevalence, common causes and factors associated with mortality among children aged 2 months to 12 years admitted at Sengerema District Hospital.

Methodology: In this prospective cross section hospital based study children aged 2 months to 12 years admitted at a primary care health facility to determine the prevalence, common causes and factors associated with mortality in this age group. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic data, presenting signs and symptoms, life status at discharge.

Results: A total of 384 children were enrolled. Out 384, 57.6% were males and the mean age of participants was 39.8 months. The most common presenting symptoms were prostration 26%, fever 24.3% and vomiting 15.1%. The prevalence of mortality was 7.6% (29/384) among which 4.2% was females. Malaria was the leading cause of mortality accounting for 73% of all deaths followed by diarrheal disease 10% and severe acute malnutrition 7%. Factors which predicted mortality were vomiting, P= 0.008, CI=2.34[1.40-9.75], fever (P=0.001, CI=3.7[1.43-3.84] and positive malaria test, P=0.08, CI=1.8[0.93-3.6].

Conclusion: Mortality in children aged 2 months to 12 years admitted at Sengerema hospital is high and is predicted by vomiting, fever and malaria.