ADOLESCENT MORBIDITY PATTERN IN A TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents make up a large and growing percentage of the population in the world, especially in developing nations. They have peculiar health needs which are often neglected due to the paucity of data from our health institutions and non-implementation of adolescent health policies.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine the morbidity pattern among adolescents attending the Paediatric clinic of a tertiary health facility.

METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 10-17 years seen at the Paediatric clinics from first of July to 31st of December 2022. Consent was obtained from parents/caregivers and assent from the adolescents. The socio-demographic data obtained from them as well as the clinical details and diagnoses made by attending physicians were recorded in the study proforma. Data was analysed with IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.

RESULTS

A total of 136 adolescents were enrolled in the study with a male:female ratio of 1:1.6. Most 90 (66.2%) were early adolescents, attended private secondary schools and belonged to the middle socioeconomic class. The commonest presenting complaints were body pains 24 (17.6%), convulsion 22 (16.2%) and cough 17 (12.5%). The three commonest diagnoses made were seizure disorder 25 (18.4%), respiratory tract infections 15(11%), and sickle cell disease (9.6%). Eleven (8.1%) were referred for surgical evaluation following surgical diagnoses such as appendicitis, inguino-scrotal hernia, ganglion and keloid. Only 3 (2.2%) were evaluated for school entry medical fitness. Forty-four (32.4%) of the adolescents were receiving treatment for various ailments in different Consultant Paediatric Clinics which included neurology 21 (15.4%), haematology 15 (11%), and infectious disease clinic (5.8%).

CONCLUSION

The adolescents presented with mainly medical illnesses to the clinic comprising of infectious and non-infectious diseases. This highlights the need to have personnel and equipment to take care of them.