Citation

Ekanem EE, Asindi AA, Okoi OU. Trop. Geogr. Med. 1994; 46(5): 305-308.

Affiliation

Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Foundation TGM)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7855918

Abstract

In February 1992 in Nigeria, pediatricians and community health workers interviewed parents living in 1263 households in the rural tropical rainforest community of Nko in Ugep Local Government Area of Cross River State to determine the pattern of infant and child mortality in a typical rural community and to examine family and social patterns which may influence child mortality. There were no records of birth and death in Nko. They identified 471 pediatric deaths (=or 15 year olds) that occurred during 1991. Children between 1 and 5 years old comprised the largest group of pediatric deaths (43.3%) followed by those older than 5 years (33.3%), 1-12 month old infants (18.1%), and newborns (5.1%). The leading causes of neonatal death were septicemia (37.5%), tetanus (20.8%), and birth asphyxia (20.8%). The leading causes of infant death included malaria (46.5%), protein energy malnutrition (PEM) (10.5%), pneumonia (10.5%), and diarrhea (10.5%). Among preschoolers (1-5 year olds), the major causes of death were malaria (35.8%), PEM (18.1%), and diarrhea (13.7%). Pneumonia (16.6%), malaria (15.3%), and tuberculosis (13.4%) were the chief causes of death among school-aged children. Among all 471 pediatric deaths, malaria was the leading cause of death. Pediatric deaths peaked in the months of March and August, periods of high malaria transmission during the transitional period from dry to wet season and from wet to dry season. Only 5% of the deceased children had adequate immunization coverage. 52.9% of the children were not treated in health facilities, as the nearest health facility was in the town of Ugep, 15 km away from Nko. Insufficient waste disposal, lack of potable water, and streams polluted with human wastes contribute to the diarrhea deaths. An open toilet system, bushes littered with domestic wastes, and no water drainage system are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Overcrowding in the homes foster the spread of infections. Protein-poor root crops predominate, leading to PEM.

Language: en