INVESTIGATION OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RATES OF CHILDREN 0-11 MONTHS IN KENEMA DISTRICT, EASTERN SIERRA LEONE: 12 MONTHS DATABASE STUDY

Objective- To investigate the 2010 reported morbidity and mortality rates for five major childhood diseases; malaria, anemia, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and worm infestation affecting children 0-11 months in Kenema District, eastern Sierra Leone. Design and Setting- Analysis of admission data collected in 120 public health units for children 0-11months who sought healthcare interventions for malaria, anemia, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and worm infestation; and 60 questionnaires administered to primary health unit (PHU) in-charges in Kenema District in 2010. Kenema District has an area of 6,053km2 and is divided into sixteen chiefdoms with a total population of 497,948 inhabitants. Subjects- Children 0-11months who received healthcare interventions for malaria, anemia, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and worm infestation in 120 PHUs in Kenema District in 2010. 82,161 children below five years reside in Kenema District. Children 12-59 months were excluded from this study so also are U5 children residing outside the study area but sought treatment in Kenema District in 2010. Main Outcome Measures- Case specific morbidity and mortality rates for malaria, anemia, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection and worm infestation for children 0-11 months attending 120 PHUs in Kenema District, Sierra Leone. Results- Malaria recorded the highest morbidity (51.56%) for the five major childhood diseases in 2010. Worm infestation recorded the lowest (0.88%) morbidity. May month recorded the highest (6.5%) cases of malaria for children 0-11months. Malaria accounts for the greatest (45.05%) cause of mortality; the highest (13.96%) mortality rate for malaria was recorded in June. Anemia and ARI have almost similar (22.07% Vs 22.56%) mortality rates for children 0-11months. Conclusion- A large proportion (80%) of the mortality and morbidity rates for children 0-11 months in Kenema District occurred in the onset (May-June) of the raining season. Malaria accounted for the highest annual morbidity (51.56%) and mortality (45.05%) for children 0-11 months in the study area. Healthcare measures such as vaccinations, antibiotic and oral rehydration therapies that are often taken for granted in wealthy countries can save millions of lives for relatively little cost in Kenema District, eastern Sierra Leone