Sociodemographic Determinants of Child Hospitalisation Outcomes at General Hospital Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria

The outcome of hospitalised children is influenced by a complex interplay of clinical and sociodemographic factors. This retrospective cross-sectional study examines sociodemographic determinants of hospitalisation outcomes among children aged one month to 15 years admitted to the paediatric ward at General Hospital Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria, over a two-year period from January 2022 to December 2023. Medical records of 684 admitted children were reviewed, extracting data on age, sex, caregiver education, household income, residential area, diagnosis, length of hospital stay, and discharge outcome. The overall case fatality rate was 13.5%. Children from rural and IDP camp settings had significantly higher mortality than those from urban households (p less than 0.01). Caregiver unemployment and low educational attainment were independently associated with adverse outcomes. Malaria, pneumonia, and severe malnutrition were the top three diagnoses among non-survivors. Children admitted with two or more co-morbidities had a fourfold increased risk of mortality compared to those with a single diagnosis. Length of hospital stay beyond seven days was associated with increased risk of hospital-acquired infections. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing social determinants of child health in conflict-affected northern Nigeria, including improving caregiver education and community-based preventive care. Keywords: hospitalisation outcomes, sociodemographic, child health, Maiduguri, North East Nigeria.