Prevalence and Pattern of Non-communicable Diseases in Children in Jos, Nigeria

Aims: In most developing countries there is limited information on the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD); even though recent findings in the developed world are predicting rapid transitions in these NCDs. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and patterns of NCDs in children in Jos, Nigeria.

Study Design: This is a retrospective review of children admitted with NCDs.

Place and Duration of Study: Emergency Pediatric Unit (EPU) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos Nigeria between January 2012 and December 2012.

Methodology: The study included 258 (150 males; 108 females; age ranged 1 month – 17 years) that were admitted with NCD (out of a total of 655 patients admitted from January to December 2012). Neonates and patients with inconclusive diagnoses were excluded. The bio-data and diagnosis of each patient was obtained and entered into Epi Info version 7.2. The categorical data were analyzed using student t-test while continuous variables were analyzed with the chi-square test. P value of < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results: Two hundred and fifty eight children of the 655 patients admitted during the period under review had NCDs giving a ratio of 0.7:1 compared to Communicable Diseases (CDs). The age group most affected was the 1 month - 5 years with the commonest NCDs being sickle cell disease (37%), severe protein energy malnutrition (8.5%), seizure disorders (7.8%), congenital heart diseases (6.6%) and malignancies (6.6%).

Conclusion: The burden of NCDs is great and on the rise even in the developing world and urgent measures need to be put in place if these trends are to be averted and children are to grow into healthy and productive adults.