Analysis of hospitalizations for mental causes of children and adolescents in córdoba in the period 2009-2019

Abstract

Summary: In mental health, hospitalization is a highly complex healthcare device and a therapeutic resource to be used with clinical criteria when other therapeutic instances have not been effective.

Objective: To analyse hospitalizations for mental causes in children-adolescents in Córdoba, Argentina.

Methodology: Retrospective, descriptive study, based on clinical records of children and adolescents hospitalized at the Hospital de Niños of Córdoba between 2009-2019 (n=770). The variables categorized were sex, age, reason for admission, days of hospitalization and other. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics and bivariate numerical variables for categorical data analysis, chi square test, Mantel-Haenszel or Fisher.

Results: There were 770 hospitalizations in the period 2009-2019, with a minimum hospital stay of 1 day, a maximum stay of 465 days, a median of 13 days and a mean of 19.6 ± 29.3 days. 62% were women and 38% men. The minimum age was 4 years and the maximum 16 years, with a mean in females of 12.9 and in males of 11.5 (p<0.0001). 60% came from the city of Córdoba, 38% from the rest of the Province of Cordoba and 2% other. 51% were referred from the health sector and 63% were receiving treatment at the time of hospitalization. 21% required re-hospitalization.

The most frequent reasons for hospitalization were suicidal behaviours 42%, hetero-aggressive episode 14.8%, psychomotor excitation episode 11.5%, acute psychotic episode 10.1% and others. The reasons for admission showed a differentiated behaviour by gender: suicidal behaviours were more frequent in women and hetero-aggressive behaviours in men.  Of the men, 75.9% (p<0.0001) were receiving treatment.

Conclusions: Hospitalizations for mental causes showed a differentiated behaviour by gender and self and hetero aggressions were the most frequent. Most of the cases were referred from the health sector and were in treatment.