Morbidity and mortality of children and adolescents due to diarrhea in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

Introduction: Diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 9% of deaths in children under five years of age, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where approximately 444,000 deaths occur annually.

Objective: The objective is to analyze the relationship between access to drinking water, basic sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions with the occurrence of morbidity and mortality caused by diarrheal diseases in children and adolescents aged 0 to 14 years in Guinea-Bissau.Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional cohort study based on secondary data from hospital records of children and adolescents aged 0 to 14 years admitted with a diagnosis of diarrhea at the Simão Mendes National Hospital.

Results: 1,306 hospitalizations were recorded, with 70% occurring in children aged 1 to 4 years, the group that accounted for the majority of deaths. The case fatality rate was highest in children under 1 year old (11.1%), with a 4.2 times higher risk of death compared to other age groups. Children from rural areas had a 4.4 times higher risk of death compared to those from urban areas.

Conclusion: Diarrhea remains a significant cause of infant mortality in Guinea-Bissau, especially among infants and those living in rural areas, highlighting social inequalities and the urgent need to expand access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and policies.