Factors affecting length of hospitalization of infants and children for recurrent gastroenteritis in Western Australia.

AIM: Aboriginal infants in Western Australia (WA) have much higher rates of hospitalization for gastroenteritis than do their non-Aboriginal peers. The aim of this 7-y retrospective study was to investigate the factors affecting the duration of hospitalizations due to recurrent gastroenteritis in WA.

METHODS: All infants born in WA in 1995 and 1996 who had indexed gastroenteritis admissions during their first year of life (n = 1009) were followed until 31 May 2002. Linked hospitalization and birth records were retrieved to derive the outcome measures, associated co-morbidities and other demographic variables. A proportional hazards frailty model was then used to determine factors influencing discharge from hospital for the study cohort.

RESULTS: Aboriginal patients were readmitted to hospital more frequently and stayed in hospital more than twice as long as non-Aborigines. Factors that slowed the rate of discharge from hospital included Indigenous status and the presence of coexisting conditions such as dehydration, sugar intolerance, failure to thrive and iron-deficiency anaemia.

CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal infections are common illnesses in infants and children, particularly for those who live in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions. Coexisting morbidities including undernutrition, nutrient deficiencies, other infections and gastrointestinal carbohydrate intolerance contribute to prolonged and recurrent hospitalization. Multifaceted clinical, disease prevention and health/hygiene promotion are needed to lessen the burden of these infections.