52nd - 53rd Annual General and Scientific Conference of the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PANCONF), 18th - 22nd January, 2022

Abstract

Background: Electrocardiography is usually used to
assess the electrical activity of the heart, it has been
found to be very useful in many aspects of medicine
apart from cardiology. The access to this noninvasive
investigation is still not encouraging despite its usefulness in Paediatrics practice.
Objectives: To determine the indications of ECG and its
mode of health financing in children in Abakaliki.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of ECG indications in children over a 5-year period in a tertiary center
in (AEFUTHA) Abakaliki, Records of ECG done over
the period, clinical indications, age, sex, and mode of
payment were recorded in proforma. Data was analysed
using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 179 ECG requests were made over
the five-year period, there were 102 males (59.8%) and
72 females (40.2%). The commonest indication for ECG
request was cardiovascular related diagnosis 125(69.8%)
and the adolescent age groups comprised 73.1% of the
subjects while subjects less than 4yrs comprised 14%.
The major source of health financing of ECG was out of
pocket expenditure 70.4%. The year 2019 had the highest record of ECG 30.2% while 2017 the lowest 17.3%.
Conclusion: ECG request rate is low in Abakakili,
though the commonest indication is still due to cardiovascular diseases, efforts should be made to scale up the
access to the investigation through cost reduction and
health insurance.