Background: Children and adolescent mortality remains a public
health concern in developing countries. This study aimed to describe risk
factors and aetiologies of mortality among children and young adolescents at a
tertiary hospital in the town of Douala, Cameroon. Methods: We carried
out a retrospective cohort study from January 1st to May 31st,
2019 among deceased patients aged 1 month to 15 years admitted to the
paediatric ward of the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital. Data of
interest were collected and analysed. Results: Out of 3088 children
admitted, 123 death cases were recorded. The overall hospital mortality rate
was 3.98%. Females accounted for 51% of the deceased patients. Fever was the
main reason for consultation. Severe malaria was the most common diagnosis. In
univariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with mortality
included hyperthermia (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.80-1.33; p = 0.012), coma/impaired
consciousness (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.10-0.88; p = 0.029), pneumonia (OR
= 3.95; 95% CI 1.42
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