Clinico-Demographic Profile of Children Attending Pediatric Outpatient Department in Tertiary Care Center in Gandaki Province, Nepal: A Prospective, Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric outpatient departments (OPDs) in tertiary care centers provide a vital connection for the early diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses. Understanding the clinico-demographic profile of pediatric patients attending these centers provides insight into the healthcare needs and challenges faced by children in specific regions. This study aimed to evaluate the clinico-demographic characteristics of children attending the pediatric OPD.  Methods: A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April 12 to December 17, 2023 at pediatric OPD at GP Koirala National Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Hospital, Tanahun, Gandaki Province, Nepal. Data were collected from the pediatric OPD during clinical history taking and examination, including 7,020 children aged 0–14 years. Verbal consent was obtained from legal guardians for using clinical history and diagnostic data. Data on age, sex, socioeconomic status, parental education, and disease distribution were analyzed using SPSS version 23.  Results: Out of 7,020 children, 42.89% were aged 1–5 years, and 28.67% were aged 6–10 years. Males (50.7%) slightly outnumbered females (49.3%). Socioeconomic analysis showed that 57.3% of children were from low-income families. Regarding parental(either father or mother or any legal gurdian who brought child at hospital OPD) education, 31.19% had secondary education, and 28.3% had primary education. Respiratory infections (19.97%) were the most common diagnosis, followed by gastroenteritis (11%), pain abdomen (9%), and malnutrition, especially undernutrition (8%). Other notable conditions included enteric fever (7.4%) and acute conjunctivitis (7.3%).  Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions among children, particularly from low-income families. The findings emphasize the need for targeted healthcare interventions and improved parental education to reduce the burden of childhood illnesses in Gandaki Province.