Ipinge, Lahja N.O.2024-06-052024-06-052024http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3884A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science in applied field epidemiology/ laboratory managementCongenital Heart Disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one-third of all birth defects globally. It is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among children in low resource settings. Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) accounts for 7.4% of the cardiac malformations. Since establishment of the only paediatric cardiac service in Namibia in 2009, number of children diagnosed with CHD has been on an increase. This study aims to assess the clinical epidemiological burden of AVSDs among children in Namibia. A retrospective cohort study (2015-2020) was conducted using a data collection tool to extract register data of children aged between 0 and 12 years with AVSD at the Windhoek Central Hospital pediatric cardiology department. Patient’s diagnostic criteria included clinical and echocardiographic assessment and when relevant, other cardiac imaging. Bivariate analysis will be used to explore the factors associated with AVSD at the confidence level of 95%. Multiple logistic regression models retained significant risk factors at p-value less than 0.05 to determine significant associations. A total of 91 patients with AVSD were captured in the study. Incidence of AVSD was 0.22 per 1000 children. The male:female ratio was 1:1.3. Trisomy 21 was the most common genetic syndrome found to be associated with AVSD, accounting for 51.6% of all AVSD cases. Only an eighth of the cases received corrective cardiac surgery. Of all the cases, 15.4% AVSD cases were diagnosed with already established irreversible pulmonary hypertension and among these 4.4% demised. There was a significant association between AVSD and prematurity with p-value of 0.029. In conclusion, the study found a significant association between with AVSD and prematurity. Late referral of patients to cardiology clinics has led to late diagnosis and hindered them from receiving appropriate treatment. The study calls for an intensified public health approach to spread the awareness and advocacy of CHD in NamibiaenCongenital Heart DiseaseAtrioventricular Septal Heart DefectsTrisomy 21Windhoek Central HospitalNamibiaThesis