RESUMEN
The study investigated the common dental conditions of children seen in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. The referral patterns were also determined to know how many of the patients had sought care at the lower levels of health before visiting a tertiary hospital. Methods: All the children aged 0–15 years seen at the Dental hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria over a 4-year period were included in the study. Information retrieved from their case notes including patterns of referral, presenting complaints, diagnosis, and treatment were extracted from the case records of the patients. Treatment plans for patients seen at this tertiary hospital were categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary health-care services. Results: A total of 1,866 children sought treatment over a 4-year period at this tertiary hospital of which 1715 (91.9%) sought treatment without referral from lower levels of care. Only 102 (5.4%) children were referred from primary health care (PHC) centers. Six hundred and seventy-five (36.2%) children presented with pain while 502 (26.9%) attended for a “check-up.” Furthermore, 779 (41.8%) children were diagnosed with periodontal disease (including gingivitis) and 539 (28.9%) with dental caries. Scaling and polishing with oral hygiene instruction was the most common treatment recommended. Only 5% of children seen at this tertiary health facility required specialized oral health-care services provided by tertiary health institutions. Conclusions: The range of oral health care needed and service provided by and for patients who visited this tertiary health-care institution can be effectively provided in a primary or secondary oral health-care delivery center. The poor integration of oral health care into PHC services in Osun State burdens the tertiary health-care institutions to provide nonspecialized oral health-care services.
RESUMEN
Objetivo: Descrever as características sócio-demográficas e identificar fatores de risco em pacientes pediátricos HIV positivos atendidos no Hospital de Ensino da Universidade de Lagos, Nigéria. Métodos: Estudo transversal no qual foi aplicado um questionário para avaliar as características sócio-demográficas de pacientes infantis HIV durante um período de 12 meses. Os dados foram analisados com o software Epi-Info 2002. Resultados: A maioria dos pais tinha abaixo do nível terciário de educação (mães, 72,7% e pais, 69,1%). Setenta por cento das mães HIV positiva, assim, a transmissão vertical parece ser o fator de risco mais prevalente. A maioria das crianças (68,1%) nasceu em hospitais privados e 78,2% oriundas de parto normal. Histórias de hospitalizações anteriores foram relatadas em 58,2% com a transfusão de sangue prévia em 30,9%. Mais de um terço das crianças (40,0%) pesava entre 2,5 e 2,9 kg ao nascimento. Conclusão: O nível de alfabetização, baixo nível socioeconômico e status de HIV familiar foram os principais fatores que contribuíram entre as crianças estudadas. Intervenções orientadas sobre as barreiras à assistência e conhecimento da infecção pelo HIV deve ser uma parte integrante do programa de prevenção do HIV.
Objective: To describe the socio-demographic characteristics of and identify risk factors in HIV positive paediatric patients presenting at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.Methods: A descriptive questionnaire based cross-sectional study to assess socio-demographic characteristics of patients presenting to the Paediatric HIV clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a 12 month period. The data were analyzed using the Epi-Info 2002 statistical software for windows. Results: Majority of parents had below tertiary level of education; mothers, 72.7 % and fathers, 69.1 %. Seventy percent of the mothers were HIV positive thus mother to child transmission seems to be the most prevalent risk factor. Majority of the children, 68.1% were delivered at private hospitals and 78.2% through normal vagina delivery. History of previous hospitalizations reported in 58.2% with previous blood transfusion in 30.9%. Over one-third of the children, 40.0% weighed between 2.5 and 2.9kg at birth. Conclusions: The literacy level, poor socioeconomic background and parental HIV status were major contributory factors in the children studied. Targeted interventions on barriers to care and knowledge of HIV infection should be an integral part of the HIV prevention program.