Conference abstract
Comparative study of the use of pediatric and neonatology services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(142).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.142.2252
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Pediatrics, hospital services, COVID-19
Oral presentation
Comparative study of the use of pediatric and neonatology services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital
Anefouet Fabiola1,2,&, Nzinnou Mbiaketcha Sonia2, Whegang Youdom Solange2, Ateudjieu Jérôme2,3
1Bertoua Regional Hospital, Bertoua, Cameroun, 2Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 3Meilleur Accès Aux Soins de Santé (M.A SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. The social distancing measures defined to fight the coronavirus pandemic have profoundly affected the use of health care services such as pediatrics and neonatology services. The aim was to compare the use of pediatric and neonatal services at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study comparing the use of pediatric and neonatal services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling was exhaustive. Data were collected on all patients registered in these services before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and during the pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021) using a grid. Service attendance and utilization indicators for each service were assessed for each period and then compared between periods.
Results: we analyze data on 8649 patients consulted and 2535 hospitalized in pediatrics. In neonatology, 2456 patients were hospitalized. During the pandemic, in pediatrics, there was a decrease in consultations (46.92% p-value=0.00), hospitalizations (31.44% p-value=0.02), bed occupancy rate ( 62.49% to 45.93%, p-value=0.00) and rate of deaths (5.91% to 3.34%, p-value=0.02). We noted an increase in the hospitalization rate, (26.67% to 34.38%, p-value=0.00) and patient escape rate, (4.86% to 6.73%, p-value=0.02). In neonatology there was a decrease in bed occupancy rate, (89.15% to 57.74%, p-value=0.00), and hospitalizations (11.34%). But there was an increase in the death rate (13.12% to 17.14%, p-value=0.00).
Conclusion: during the pandemic, visits, hospitalizations, bed/incubator occupancy, and mean length of stay of patients decreased but hospitalization and neonatal death rates increased.
Comparative study of the use of pediatric and neonatology services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital
Anefouet Fabiola1,2,&, Nzinnou Mbiaketcha Sonia2, Whegang Youdom Solange2, Ateudjieu Jérôme2,3
1Bertoua Regional Hospital, Bertoua, Cameroun, 2Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 3Meilleur Accès Aux Soins de Santé (M.A SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. The social distancing measures defined to fight the coronavirus pandemic have profoundly affected the use of health care services such as pediatrics and neonatology services. The aim was to compare the use of pediatric and neonatal services at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study comparing the use of pediatric and neonatal services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling was exhaustive. Data were collected on all patients registered in these services before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and during the pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021) using a grid. Service attendance and utilization indicators for each service were assessed for each period and then compared between periods.
Results: we analyze data on 8649 patients consulted and 2535 hospitalized in pediatrics. In neonatology, 2456 patients were hospitalized. During the pandemic, in pediatrics, there was a decrease in consultations (46.92% p-value=0.00), hospitalizations (31.44% p-value=0.02), bed occupancy rate ( 62.49% to 45.93%, p-value=0.00) and rate of deaths (5.91% to 3.34%, p-value=0.02). We noted an increase in the hospitalization rate, (26.67% to 34.38%, p-value=0.00) and patient escape rate, (4.86% to 6.73%, p-value=0.02). In neonatology there was a decrease in bed occupancy rate, (89.15% to 57.74%, p-value=0.00), and hospitalizations (11.34%). But there was an increase in the death rate (13.12% to 17.14%, p-value=0.00).
Conclusion: during the pandemic, visits, hospitalizations, bed/incubator occupancy, and mean length of stay of patients decreased but hospitalization and neonatal death rates increased.
