A Retrospective Study on Child Malnutrition in the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Williams Walana *
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Samuel Ekuban Kwabena Acquah
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Samuel Makinin
Department of Nursing, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Mavis Sarfo
Department of Nursing, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Abdul Bassit Muktar
Department of Nursing, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Ezekiel Kofi Vicar
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Ernestina Yirkyio
Department of Nutrition, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
Mohammed Shaibu Osman
Department of Nutrition, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
Alhasan Abdul-Mumin
Department of Paediatrics, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Sylvanus Kampo
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Iddrisu Baba Yabasin
Department of Anesthesia, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
Juventus Benogle Ziem
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Malnutrition is an essential global public health challenge affecting millions of people. The burden of malnutrition is huge especially among children in developing countries and poverty stricken regions.
Aims: This study investigated the distributions, co-morbidities, and admission outcomes among malnourished children in the paediatric ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
Study Design: A retrospective health facility based study was employed.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the paediatric ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, from May to June 2015. Data extracted covered the period March 2011 to March 2015.
Methodology: Record books were manually reviewed and data on patients’ demography, nutritional status, clinical findings, co-morbid conditions, duration of admission and treatment outcomes were extracted using a structured excel template.
Results: Out of a total 969 children admitted to the ward, 440 (45.4%) were females and 529 (54.6%) were males. Majority of the patients 537 (55.4%) were within the age bracket 7-24 months, with a mean age of 21.2±0.6 months. Approximately 95.3% of the children were severely malnourished. Treatment outcome were generally successful; 534 (58.6%) recovered and were referred to the outpatient clinic for further management, while 220 (23.7%) improved and were discharged. However, the total death rate for the period was 12.8% (119/927). Regarding duration of admission, majority 434 (45.7%) spent between 1-7 days on admission followed by 8-14 days 296 (31.2%). The commonest malnutrition related co-morbidity was malaria, recording 28.1% (236), followed by respiratory tract infections 12.7% (107), gastro-intestinal tract infections 12.0% (101), and sepsis 10.0% (84).
Conclusion: The gradual increase in malnutrition cases recorded in the hospital suggests the existence of relatively high cases in the various communities within Northern Ghana. Thus scaling up community-based malnutritional interventions will be critical in ameliorating the challenges of malnutrition related admissions, particularly among children in the northern part of Ghana.
Keywords: Malnutrition, co-morbidity, admission, Northern Ghana.