Trend of Paediatric Medical admissions and outcome of care at a Tertiary Health Facility in Lafia Nasarawa State North-Central Nigeria

Background The burden of preventable childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries is on the increase. This is worrisome in Nigeria adjudged as one of the countries with the worst under-five mortality report globally and impeding the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 target. We described the trend of Paediatric admissions and outcome over a six-year period at a tertiary facility. Methods We reviewed data of all patients aged 29days to < 18years admitted into the Children Medical Ward of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2023. Secondary data abstraction was undertaken for the required information. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results were presented as frequencies and percentages and reported as tables and graphs. Results We documented 9,228 admissions, with more males giving a male to female ratio of 1.3: 1. We successfully managed and discharged 8,300 (89.9%) and recorded 674 (7.3%) deaths, 187 (2.0%) absconded, 99 (1.1%) were discharged against medical advice while 31 (0.3%) were referred for care. An increasing trend in the admissions with declining mortalities were noticed. On the contrary, rising pattern of patients abscondment were observed over the years. The commonest causes of admissions were malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea diseases. Conclusions There is a progressive increase in the paediatric medical admission pattern in this study. The childhood mortality rate is high but with a progressive decline in the rate over the years. Discharge against medical advice remained high while the rate of child abscondment is worrisome. Malaria is the commonest reason for admission at our facility, others are Pneumonia, Diarrhea diseases, Sickle cell crisis, and Meningitis. Use of malaria chemoprevention, early diagnosis with a good turnaround time and training will help in improving quality of care and coping with the increasing trend of admissions.