Multidimensional Determinants of Pediatric Morbidity and Mortality A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study of Socioeconomic, Environmental and Healthcare Factors

Dr. Yogesh Goel, Sangeeta Sharma, Dipesh Kumar

Pediatric Morbidity; Child Mortality; Social Determinants of Health; Healthcare Accessibility; Pediatric Epidemiology; Child Health Outcomes

Pediatric morbidity and mortality remain vital indicators of population health and healthcare system effectiveness. Despite major progress in child survival over recent decades, preventable diseases and deaths continue in most settings due to multifaceted socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare-related determinants. This cross-sectional study examines determinants of morbidity and mortality patterns among 236 paediatric patients admitted to tertiary healthcare facilities over twelve months. Variables studied included demographic characteristics, nutritional status, parental educational attainment, household income, healthcare accessibility, environmental sanitation indicators, and clinical diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and logistic regression analyses identified important predictors of morbidity and mortality. Findings revealed high correlations among malnutrition, late access to care, low parental education, and poor sanitation with high paediatric morbidity rates. Neonatal complications (OR=2.96), severe malnutrition (OR=2.84), and delayed hospital admission (OR=2.17) were the leading mortality predictors. Socioeconomic differences were significant in producing unbalanced health outcomes. These results highlight the urgency of integrated child health interventions combining medical, environmental, and social improvements. Enhancement of primary healthcare infrastructure, maternal education, nutrition programmes, and preventive services can significantly reduce paediatric morbidity and mortality.

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