AUTHOR=Molla Misganew Terefe , Endeshaw Amanuel Sisay , Kumie Fantahun Tarekegn , Lakew Tigist Jegnaw 

TITLE=The magnitude of pediatric mortality and determinant factors in intensive care units in a low-resource country, Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1117497

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1117497

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background 
Pediatric mortality after being admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit in Ethiopia is high compared to high-income countries. There are limited studies regarding pediatric mortality in Ethiopia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the magnitude and predictors of pediatric mortality after being admitted to an intensive care unit in Ethiopia.
Methods
This review was conducted in Ethiopia after retrieving peer-reviewed articles and evaluating their quality using AMSTAR 2 criteria. An electronic database was used as a source of information, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Africa Journal of Online Databases, by using AND/OR boolean operators. Random effects of Meta-analysis were used to show the pooled mortality of pediatric patients and its predictors. A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias, and heterogeneity was also checked. The final results of the review was expressed in overall pooled percentage and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) at < 0.05%. 
Results 
In our review, eight studies were used for the final analysis with a total population of 2345. Of this, the overall pooled mortality of pediatric patients after being admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit was 28.5% (95% CI, 19.06, 37.98). The predictors include the use of a mechanical ventilator was an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.64 (95% CI: 1.99,3.30), level of Glasgow coma scale <8 was OR 2.29 (95% CI: 1.38,3.19), the presence of comorbidity was an OR 2.18 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.95), and use of inotropes was an OR 2.36 (95% CI: 1.65, 3.06) was the pooled mortality determinant factors.
Conclusion: In our review, the overall pooled mortality of pediatric patients after being admitted to the intensive care unit was high. Particular caution should be made on patients on the use of mechanical ventilators, level of Glasgow coma scale < 8, the presence of comorbidity, and use of inotropes.