PATTERN OF PEDIATRIC ADMISSION IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Understanding pediatric admission patterns is crucial for healthcare planning and resource allocation. This study aimed to analyze the demographic characteristics, clinical profile, seasonal variations, and associated factors of pediatric admissions in a tertiary care hospital in northern India. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at A.S.J.S A.T.D.S Medical College, Fatehpur, over six months from November 2024 to April 2025. Data was collected from 458 pediatric admissions using a structured proforma capturing demographic details, clinical information, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: Children under five years constituted 74% of admissions, with male predominance (57.4%). Most patients were from rural areas (65.1%) and lower socioeconomic strata (54.1%). Neonatal conditions (28.4%) were the leading cause of admission, followed by respiratory (24.2%) and gastrointestinal (16.8%) disorders. In neonates, prematurity (15.9%), neonatal sepsis (7.4%), and birth asphyxia (5.2%) were predominant. Among post-neonatal children, pneumonia (13.5%), acute gastroenteritis (11.8%), and bronchiolitis (8.7%) were most common. Significant seasonal variations were observed, with respiratory illnesses predominating in winter and gastroenteritis in early summer. The mean hospital stay was 5.3 ± 3.8 days, with a mortality rate of 2.8%. Factors significantly associated with adverse outcomes included neonatal age (AOR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.67-6.28), rural residence (AOR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.01-4.41), nighttime presentation (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.05-3.92), malnutrition (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.61-6.04), and delayed presentation (AOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.19-4.48). Malnutrition (23.1%) and anemia (21.4%) were the most common comorbidities. Conclusion: The study highlights neonatal conditions as the predominant cause of pediatric admissions, followed by infectious diseases with notable seasonal variations. The identified risk factors for adverse outcomes underscore the need to strengthen neonatal care, primary healthcare, nutritional interventions, community awareness, and emergency services to improve pediatric healthcare outcomes.