ABSTRACT
Background: Childhood tetanus has high mortality and is preventable
Objective: To enlist the risk factors of childhood tetanus among patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: Study design: Cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: Children ward, Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan from 1 September 2012 to 28 February 2015. In this study 97 patients were included. Their parents were interviewed according to the given performa. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 19
Results: Out of 97 patients, the fathers of 68[64%] patients and mothers of 84 [86%] patients were either illiterate or primary education only. Most 57 [58%] of the patients belonged to a low socioeconomic family having the monthly income of less than PKR 10,000. The fathers of 37[38%] patients were Sindhi. 57[58.76%] patients were from rural areas. Most 69 [71%] of the affected patients were boys, age range of 5 to 10 years, was found 39 [40%] of patients were boys, age range of 5 to 10 years, was found in 39 [40%] of patients
Conclusion: The various factors which are responsible for the development of childhood tetanus were; poor educational status of the parents, Sindhi, ethnicity, low socioeconomic status and rural area residence