ABSTRACT
1] To determine the frequency of top five diseases among children presenting in pediatric medical unit. 2] To find out the association of maternal education with Feeding practices, immunization and nutritional status in children with these diseases
Materials and Methods: It was a prospective observational study conducted in medical unit of the Children's hospital and the institute of child health Lahore from February 2009 to April 2009. Total 175 patients age betweenl month to 5 years were enrolled in the study. Data was collected after an informed consent from the mother. A predesigned Performa was filled for every patient, which included history and examination
Results: Among 175 patients, there were 64% male and 36% female. Regarding age distribution 92 patients were between 1 month-2 years and 83 were in the age group of 2 - 5 years. The most common cause for hospitalization was acute lower respiratory tract infections like bronchopneumonia/lobar pneumonia and bronchiolitis [30.8%], acute watery diarrhea [18.85%], meningoencephalitis [bacterial/viral/tuberculous] 12%, tuberculosis [pulmonary/Skeletal] [9%] and malaria [4.5%]. Other less common diseases were enteric fever [4%], febrile seizures [4%], urinary tract infections [3.4%], metabolic seizures [3%] and measles [2.28%]. Amongst patients, 18.3% did not receive any vaccination, 39.3% were partially immunized while 74% were fully immunized according to EPI. After inquiry it was found that only 2% of the mothers fulfill the criteria for clean feeding practices and rest of 98% were otherwise. Only 15% of patients were adequately weaned and 28.3% were exclusively breast fed. It was found that 107 patient [61.2%] belonged to low socio-economic class while 65 [37.1%] came from low middle class income group while only 3 patients [1.7%] belonged to upper middle class family
Conclusion: Great emphasis is needed for improvement of primary health care, immunization, and promotion of breast feeding as well as hygienic practices. In resource compromised country like Pakistan strengthening of primary health facilities and education of women appears to be the only way forward if reduction in disease burden and morbidity has to be achieved