Paediatric brought - in - dead at a tertiary health facility in South western Nigeria: Patterns and drivers

Authors

  • Oladele S Olatunya Department of Paediatrics
  • Adefunke O Babatola Department of Paediatrics
  • Adewuyi T Adeniyi Department of Paediatrics
  • Adebukola B Ajite Department of Paediatrics
  • Isaac O Oluwayemi Department of Paediatrics
  • Ezra O Ogundare Department of Paediatrics
  • Odunayo A Fatunla Department of Paediatrics
  • Akinwumi K Komolafe Department of Paediatrics
  • Adekunle B Taiwo Department of Paediatrics
  • Alfred Airemionkhale Department of Paediatrics
  • Ayotunde E Ajibola Department of Paediatrics
  • Boluwatife A Sola - Oniyide Department of Paediatrics
  • Adewale O Adebisi Department of Paediatrics
  • Benjamin F Ilori Department of Paediatrics
  • Oyeku A Oyelami Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Abstract

Abstract:

Background: ‘Brought in dead’ (BID) refers to the demise of an individual before presentation to a health facility. This study assessed the pattern of paediatric BID cases seen at a tertiary health facility in southwest Nigeria.

Method: A cross- sectional, descriptive study was done at the Children Emergency Ward (CEW) of the hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. The patterns of BID cases and presumed causes of death were determined using a standardized checklist adapted from the WHO verbal autopsy instrument.

Results: Ninety- eight BID cases were seen during the study, constituting 2.5% of total patients seen during the period. The median (IQR) age of cases was 24.0 (8.75 – 63.0) months and 72.4% were under fives. Most had symptoms related to the haematologic (36.7%), respiratory (24.5%) or digestive (20.4%) systems. Severe anaemia 31(31.6%), gastroenteritis 19(19.4) and aspiration 17 (17.3%) were the most common causes of death. The median (IQR) duration of illness before presentation was 3.0 (1.0 – 7.0) days but most presented from 4 – 7 days of illness. A significant relationship was found between the duration of illness and whether or not pre hospital treatment was received (p < 0.0001). Unprescribed drugs purchased over the counter were the most commonly used treatment in 79.1% of cases (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: This study has highlighted the prevalence and pattern of paediatric BID in a tertiary health facility in southwest Nigeria and the factors that were associated with it. More efforts need to be geared towards community sensitization and pediatric health care to prevent factors driving its menace.

Keywords: Pediatric Brought in Dead; Pattern; Drivers; Nigeria

Author Biographies

  • Oladele S Olatunya, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Adefunke O Babatola, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Adewuyi T Adeniyi, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Adebukola B Ajite, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Isaac O Oluwayemi, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Ezra O Ogundare, Department of Paediatrics
    College o f Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
  • Odunayo A Fatunla, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti
  • Akinwumi K Komolafe, Department of Paediatrics
    EkitiState University Teaching Hospital, Ado- Ekiti,
  • Adekunle B Taiwo, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti,
  • Alfred Airemionkhale, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti  State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti,
  • Ayotunde E Ajibola, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti
  • Boluwatife A Sola - Oniyide, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti
  • Adewale O Adebisi, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti
  • Benjamin F Ilori, Department of Paediatrics
    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado - Ekiti
  • Oyeku A Oyelami, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
    Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife,

Published

2021-08-02

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 2 (2021): Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics

Section

ORIGINALS

License

This is an open-access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work even, commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given to the author, and the new creations are licensed under identical terms

How to Cite

Paediatric brought - in - dead at a tertiary health facility in South western Nigeria: Patterns and drivers. (2021). NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS, 48(2), 66 – 73. https://www.njpaediatrics.com/index.php/njp/article/view/30

Most read articles by the same author(s)