Audit of Medication Errors in Paediatric Inpatient Wards at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State

Medication errors in paediatric inpatient settings are a significant patient safety concern, as the risk of dose calculation errors, weight-based dosing mistakes, and inappropriate drug selection is elevated in children compared to adults. This study audits the incidence, types, and contributing factors of medication errors in paediatric inpatient wards at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A prospective observational design is applied over a three-month period, employing direct observation by trained pharmacy research assistants during drug administration rounds in three paediatric wards and a structured review of prescription and medication administration records. Variables include error type (prescribing, dispensing, or administration), drug involved, patient weight and age, severity of error using the NCC MERP index, and contributing system factors. SPSS is used for analysis. Available paediatric medication safety literature from North East Nigeria identifies weight-based dose calculation errors and omission of allergy documentation as the most frequent prescribing errors, with junior doctors during night shifts representing a higher-risk prescribing context. The WHO Medication Without Harm Framework and NCC MERP error classification provide the analytical reference. Findings will guide the hospital's pharmacy and therapeutics committee on implementing unit-dose dispensing and mandatory prescriber weight documentation protocols. Keywords: medication errors, paediatric inpatient, patient safety, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria.