Medication Administration Errors Among Children Admitted at a Regional Hospital in Northern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Errors in medication administration have a number of detrimental effects, including delayed healing, drug resistance, morbidity, and even mortality, particularly in children.However, there are limited empirical data on the incidence of medication administration errors experienced by children admitted to healthcare facilities in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to obtain data from 399 sick children admitted to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Ghana to assess medication administration errors. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses such as Pearson chi-square tests and binary logistic regression,were also conducted. Results: The incidence of medication administration errors was 65.9%. The intravenous route of medication was the most common route involved in medication administration errors (48.1%). An incorrect frequency of drug administration (41.9%) was the most common type of error. However, there were significant correlations between the occurrence of medication administration errors and hospital ward (p<0.001), age (p<0.001) and patient weight (p<0.05). Conclusion:Children admitted to healthcare facilities are more likely to receive medication administration errors.