Abstract

FUENTES ZAMBRANA, Mireya  and  MEJIA SALAS, Héctor. Risk Factors Associated to Death in Children of one Month to smaller than Five Years in the Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría". La Paz - Bolivia. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2004, vol.43, n.1, pp.11-14. ISSN 1024-0675.

Objective: to identify risk factors associated to death in children from one month to younger than five years in the Hospital del Niño, La Paz, Bolivia. Design: case control study Place: Hospital del Niño, third level and national reference center. Participants: from May 1 to November 30, 82 children admitted from one month to younger than five years of age, of which 41 died (cases) and 41 surviving children's after each case (control) Intervention: None Main mensurations: data of clinical histories of cases and controls, with general information, diagnose, cause of death, co-morbid states, practiced procedures, day and time of death. Results: 62% of deaths were due to infectious processes, followed by accidents and traumas 12%, 40% of deaths happened in holidays and weekends. In the analysis the main Odd Ratio was the co-morbid states as alterations hydroelectrolítics OR 23 (IC95% 5.48-111.15), severe malnutrition OR 16 (IC95% 3-98), anemia below 80g/L OR 10 (IC95% 2.75 - 38.58). Conclusions: as in several underdeveloped countries without the epidemic transition infectious causes are still an important cause of death in children under five years. Some factors associated to death are susceptible to change in the hospital, as the opportune intervention of some states associated to the illness (anemia, alterations hydroelectrolítics, metabolic, acid base), the other opposing factors depend on improving the nutritional state, to intensify vaccination campaigns.

Keywords : risk factors; mortality.