Table 2

Baseline characteristics of children and pregnant women

Children (n=440)Pregnant women (n=422)
Age, median13 months24 years
Referral from PHC or other hospitals205 (46.6%)*273 (64.7%)
Night admission
(22:00–06:00)
34 (7.7%)33 (7.8%)
Primary diagnosisAcute gastroenteritis: 142 (32.3%)
Pneumonia: 94 (21.4%)
Acute bronchitis or bronchiolitis: 86 (19.5%)
Acute respiratory infection: 118 (26.8%)
Threatened preterm labour: 222 (52.6%)
Threatened miscarriage: 170 (40.3%)
Mild pre-eclampsia: 17 (4.0%)
Premature rupture of membranes: 13 (3.1%)
Other diagnoses present at admission or during hospitalisationAnaemia: 178 (40.5%)
“Neurotoxicosis”†: 52 (11.8%)
Malnutrition: 37 (8.4%)
Perinatal encephalopathy: 24 (5.5%)
Rickets: 11 (2.5%)
Seizure: 10 (2.3%)
Sepsis: 4 (0.9%)
Cerebral palsy: 3 (0.7%)
Anaemia: 202 (47.9%)
Chronic pyelonephritis: 92 (21.8%)
Goitre: 12 (2.8%)
Underweight: 9 (2.1%)
  • *Data collection on referral was missed for 30 children.

  • †’Neurotoxicosis’ is not recognised as a diagnosis according to the ICD-10 classification.

  • PHC, primary healthcare.