The Association between Social Disadvantage and Morbidity in Hospitalised Children

Abstract

The nutritional status, length of hospitalization and the diagnoses in 207 socially disadvantaged and 232 non-disadvantaged controls admitted into the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, over a six-month period were compared. The patterns and frequencies of the diseases diagnosed in the two groups were similar. However, compared with controls, significantly greater percentages of disadvantaged children were hospitalized for over six days (p<0.005), and were malnourished by weight (p<0.001) and by height/length (p<0.005). The findings suggest the need to generate more data on social disadvantage in developing countries and to recognize and give affected children and families special attention at the various health and social care service points. Moreover, services should be provided in the community with a view to reducing the incidence of social disadvantage and at mitigating their effects on child health.


Key words: Social, Disadvantage, Morbidity, Hospitalised children


Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2002; 29:5-10.