Predictors of Bacterial Meningitis among Paediatric Patients Aged 0 - 5 Years at Kenyatta Hospital, Kenya

• 作者: Dorcas Maina June J. Serem Margaret Chege
• 来源期刊: 儿科学期刊(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: MENINGITIS CHILD PREDICTORS Kenya
• 年，卷（期）: 2018,（3）
• 页码范围: 207-220
• 页数: 14页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

Introduction: Meningitis remains a common and serious problem in children worldwide. One million instances of meningitis are assessed to happen in children worldwide each year. In Africa, where outbreaks are common 70% of meningitis cases are diagnosed in children under the age of five (5) years. Though in most cases, doctors diagnose early and adequate treatment started, 5% to 10% of patients still succumb during the 24 - 48 hours after onset of clinical features. In 2009, the mortality rate in Africa was four thousand deaths. Study Objective: This study describes the predictors of bacterial meningitis among children aged 0 - 5 years admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital (K.N.H.) paediatric wards. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. It was carried out in K.N.H. paediatric wards. Data were obtained from consenting parent or guardian and healthcare workers (nurses and registrars). Study participants were selected by convenient sam-pling method. A total of 104 study participants were included in the study sample. In-depth interviews of key informants were conducted on 7 health workers;5 nurses from the paediatric wards and paediatric emergency unit and 2 paediatric registrars. Ethical consideration included full disclosure to participants, confidentiality, security of health records and informed consent. Data were collected by use of researcher administered semi-structured ques-tionnaire and desk reviews of patients’ files were also used. Qualitative data from the interviews were audio-taped. Logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. Quantitative data were cleaned, entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results were displayed by utilization of tables, pie charts. Qualitative data were transcribed, grouped in themes and analysed manually. Study Results: The majority of the children (55.8%) were female. The highest percentage of the children (53.8%) was aged less than one year. The highest proportion of the parents (39.4