Articles

HIV infection, tuberculosis and workload in a general paediatric ward

Margaret Weakley, Annie Vries, Kirsten L Reichmuth, Vashini Pillay, Brian Stephen Eley

Abstract


Aim: To describe the impact of HIV infection and tuberculosis on the workload of a general paediatric ward at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in 2007.

Methods: Prospective descriptive surveillance of the patient composition of a general paediatric ward over a 1 year period.

Results: Median bed occupancy was 96.4%, and 66.7% of all patients admitted to the ward were < 12 months old. Of all admitted children, 27.6% had HIV infection, 16.7% had tuberculosis (TB) and 10.3% had HIV-TB co-infection. Of all children requiring high care, 23.1% were HIV-infected. Approximately 50% of all children with HIV infection were on antiretroviral therapy. The annualised nurse-to-patient ratios were 1 nurse per 2.7 patients and 1 registered nurse per 5.0 high care patients. Fifty six children died during admission; 34 (60.7%) were HIV-infected. Pneumonia was the main cause of death in both HIV-infected and uninfected children.

Conclusion: Despite the existence of prevention of mother-to-child transmission intervention and paediatric antiretroviral treatment programmes throughout the Western Cape, HIV infection and TB continues to contribute substantially to the general paediatric workload at the hospital. Work associated with specific nurse functions should be quantified so that patient-nurse ratios may be optimised.

Authors' affiliations

Margaret Weakley, Red Cross Children's Hospital

Annie Vries, Red Cross Children's Hospital

Kirsten L Reichmuth, Red Cross Children's Hospital

Vashini Pillay, University of Cape Town

Brian Stephen Eley, Red Cross Children's Hospital

Full Text

PDF (993KB)

Keywords

HIV infection, Tuberculosis, workload

Cite this article

South African Journal of Child Health 2009;3(2):55.

Article History

Date submitted: 2009-01-28
Date published: 2009-08-26

Article Views

Abstract views: 4542
Full text views: 1867

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here