Morbidity and mortality patterns among malnourished children in Benin City, Nigeria.

A morbidity and mortality survey was carried out amongst 196 malnourished children attending the Nutrition Unit, Ministry of Health, Owina Street, Benin City, Nigeria, between January 1971 and December 1973 (morbidity) and also between October 1974 and March 1975 (mortality). Gastrointestinal disorders (77, 39.3%) and measles (67, 34.2%) predominated in both morbidity and mortality patterns. In all, 30 (15.3%) of these children died, and kwashiorkor contributed 14 (46.7%) of this total. The age group of the majority of the sick and dead children was 1-2 years, which is within the traditional weaning age of Nigerian children. Immunization of children and their mothers at appropriate times, coupled with sound nutrition and health education to their mothers, will go a long way towards ensuring the good health and welfare of our children.