The prehospital paediatric emergency care burden managed by a public ambulance service in the Western Cape, South Africa

The prehospital paediatric emergency care burden managed by a public ambulance service in the Western Cape, South Africa

Paediatric mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries account for over 80% of the global burden. In South Africa, one in every 33 children will not reach the age of five. Despite the high mortality rate, there is a paucity of data describing the prehospital paediatric under-five emergency care burden in South Africa. Such data are essential to inform the development of local prehospital emergency care guidelines and targeted prevention strategies.

In the 87 457 cases, there was a similar distribution between the primary cases (50.7%) and interfacility transfers (49.3%). Most activations emanated from rural areas (47 980, 54.9%), with respiratory emergencies (30 934, 35.4%), non-cardiac pain (11 381, 13.0%) and trauma (10 831,12.4%) being the most common presenting complaints. Most cases were prioritised as priority 2 (46 034, 52.6%), with most of these being older children between one and five years old (29 008, 63.0). Low acuity cases accounted for 67.2% (58 818) of the sample, with the highest mortality occurring between 29 days and 12 months (190, 52.9.%). Most patients spent less than one hour in the prehospital setting (64 431, 73.7%), with advanced airway management (748, 43.1%) being the most common airway intervention.

Naseef Abdullah, Naqeeb Majiet & Simpiwe Sobuwa

https://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12873-024-01146-z

BMC Emergency Medicine

18 december 2024

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