Abstract:

Background: Globally child mortality has reduced by 56% from 14.2 million in 1990 to 6.2 million in 2018. In Tanzania, the mortality rate of children below 5 years is still 1.7 higher than the world average, Mortality of children below 1 month of age contributed 47% of all under-fives deaths globally. This study determined the common causes of admission and factors associated with mortality among children aged below 5 years.

Methodology: In this prospective cross sectional, hospital based study, children below five years of age admitted at Nyamagana District Hospital were enrolled so as to determine the common causes of admissions and factors associated with mortality in this age group. Data collection tool was used to collect socio-demographic information, presenting signs and symptoms. Status at discharge was also obtained.

Results: A total of 384 children were enrolled out of whom 221 (57.6%) were males . The most common presenting symptoms were body weakness (26%), fever (24.3%) and vomiting (15.1%). The overall mortality was 7.6% among which 4.2% were 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 (OR = 2.34 95% CI [1.40-9.75], P= 0.008,), fever (OR = 3.7, 95% CI [1.42-3.84], P=0.001,) and positive malaria test (OR =1.8[0.93-3.6], P=0.08, ).

Conclusion: Mortality in children below five years of age at Nyamagana hospital was 7.6% and was predicted by vomiting, fever and positive malaria test.