Excess child mortality after discharge from hospital in Kilifi, Kenya: a retrospective cohort analysis

• Main Authors: Jennifer C Moïsi (Author), Hellen Gatakaa (Author), James A Berkley (Author), Kathryn Maitland (Author), Neema Mturi (Author), Charles R Newton (Author), Patricia Njuguna (Author), James Nokes (Author), John Ojal (Author), Evasius Bauni (Author), Benjamin Tsofa (Author), Norbert Peshu (Author), Kevin Marsh (Author), Thomas N Williams (Author), J Anthony G Scott (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: The World Health Organization.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0042-9686; 10.1590/S0042-96862011001000011
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vol 89, Iss 10, Pp 725-732

OBJECTIVE: To explore excess paediatric mortality after discharge from Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya, and its duration and risk factors. METHODS: Hospital and demographic data were used to describe post-discharge mortality and survival probability in children aged < 15 years, by age group and clinical syndrome. Cox regression models were developed to identify risk factors. FINDINGS: In 2004-2008, approximately 111 000 children were followed for 555 000 person-years. We analysed 14 971 discharges and 535 deaths occurring within 365 days of discharge. Mortality was higher in the post-discharge cohort than in the community cohort (age-adjusted rate ratio, RR:7.7; 95% confidence interval, CI: 6.6-8.9) and declined little over time.An increased post-discharge mortality hazard was found in children aged < 5 years with the following: weight-for-age Z score <-4 (hazard ratio, HR:6.5); weight-for-age Z score >-4 but <-3 (HR:3.4); hypoxia (HR:2.3); bacteraemia (HR:1.8); hepatomegaly (HR:2.3); jaundice (HR:1.8); hospital stay >13 days (HR:1.8).Older age was protective (reference <1 month): 6-23 months, HR:0.8; 2-4 years, HR:0.6. Children with at least one risk factor accounted for 545 (33%) of the 1655 annual discharges and for 39 (47%) of the 83 discharge-associated deaths. CONCLUSION: Hospital admission selects vulnerable children with a sustained increased risk of dying. The risk factors identified provide an empiric basis for effective outpatient follow-up.