COVID-19 related deaths in Juba, South Sudan: Post mortem Audit January - July 2020

Kenneth LL Sube 1, *, Akram G Nyok 1, 4, Oromo F Seriano 1, Joseph DW Lako 2, Justin B Tongun 1, Charles O Cornellio 5, Fredrick K Tawad 1, 9, Yatta S Lukou 3, Rose A Costa 1, Isaac C Rial 1, 6, Chep C Chep 1, 4, Arkangelo AM Kristino 1, 4, James Ayei 7 and Richard L Loro 8

1 College of Medicine, University of Juba, South Sudan.
2 College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Juba, South Sudan.
3 College of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan.
4 Juba Military Referral Hospital, South Sudan.
5 College of Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK.
6 Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan.
7 National Public Laboratory, South Sudan.
8 Directorate of planning, policy and Research, National Ministry of Health, South Sudan.
9 College of Physicians and Surgeons, South Sudan.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 11(02), 147–153
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2021.11.2.0372
Publication history: 
Received on 04 July 2021; revised on 10 August 2021; accepted on 13 August 2021
 
Abstract: 
Background: With global spread of COVID-19, countries began to develop scientific activities ranging from detection, prevention and control measures to vaccine development. In order to develop sound strategies to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to conduct postmortem audit.
Objectives: The study is to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 related death in both Juba Military Referral Hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital.
Methods and materials: This is a retrospective post mortem audit study. Data related to corpses were collected from registers of both JMRH and JTH from January to July 2020.
Data was cleaned and entered in SPSS version 21 for statistical analysis and variables with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Out of 201 corpses recorded between Jan-July, 72.6% were from JMRH, and 27.4% from JTH. Male were 76.6% and 23.4% female, Age range 21-100 years with mean of 61 years (SD+/- 17.73). Respiratory failure was the leading cause of death (26.9%) p=0.036. More than half of the corpses (52.7%) reported, died at hospital while 19.9% community death, 27.4% had no place of death indicated p=001. Furthermore 39% of the corpses were of age group (61-80 years), while 38.7% of age group (41-60 Years) died due to respiratory failure p=0.001
Conclusion: This study revealed that higher COVID-19 related death more in males with respiratory failures.
 
Keywords: 
COVID-19 related death; Respiratory failure; Post-mortem audit; Mortuary; South Sudan
 
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