A 3 Month Study on the Top 3 Diseases admitted via the Maternity and Out-Patient Departments of Ringim Gunduma General Hospital, Jigawa State, Nigeria
Report on the 1st Community Development Service Project.
Objective
The primary objective was to determine the pattern of admissions into the wards of a secondary health institution in Jigawa State within a 3-month period (January 2010 – March 2010) via the maternity and out-patient departments.
A 3 Month Study on the Top 3 Diseases admitted via the Maternity and Out-Patient Departments of Ringim Gunduma General Hospital.
By Osuafor CN and Abubakri O.
The primary objective was to determine the pattern of admissions into the wards of a secondary health institution in Jigawa State within a 3-month period (January 2010 – March 2010) via the maternity and out-patient departments.
The secondary objectives were to determine the age and sex distribution of the patients, to know the areas of emphasis for health seminars and to present baseline data for channeling of health resources, monitoring of disease incidence and for future reference for other studies.
Methodology
A pilot and retrospective analysis was done using the hospital’s medical records and the patients’ folders during the period. Tabulation was done using Microsoft Office Excel and the results were collated and analyzed using Epi Info 3.5.1 to elucidate the top three diseases.
Results for Maternity Department
A total of 527 patients were admitted into the maternity ward, giving an average of 176 admissions per month and 6 admissions per day.
Majority (276; 52.4%) were aged 20 – 29 years.
Of the total,
Table 1: Indication for Admission via Maternity Department
Results for Out-Patient department
A total of 435 patients were admitted via the out-patient department, giving an average of 145 admissions per month and 5 admissions per day.
Males were 218 (50.1%) and most were children aged 1-15 years 164 (37.7%).
Of the total,
Methodology
A pilot and retrospective analysis was done using the hospital’s medical records and the patients’ folders during the period. Tabulation was done using Microsoft Office Excel and the results were collated and analyzed using Epi Info 3.5.1 to elucidate the top three diseases.
Results for Maternity Department
A total of 527 patients were admitted into the maternity ward, giving an average of 176 admissions per month and 6 admissions per day.
Majority (276; 52.4%) were aged 20 – 29 years.
Of the total,
204 (38.7%) patients had normal pregnancy,
64 (12.1%) anaemia in pregnancy,
56 (10.6%) eclampsia,
32 (6.1%) antepartum haemorrhage,
30 (5.7%) spontaneous abortions,
22 (4.2%) retained placenta,
18 (3.4%) prolonged obstructed labour,
15 (2.8%) malaria in pregnancy,
15 (2.8%) threatened abortions,
10 (1.9%) intrauterine fetal deaths,
8 (1.5%) pre-eclamptic toxaemia,
7 (1.3%) post partum haemorrhage,
7 (1.3%) hyperemesis gravidarum,
6 (1.1%) retained 2nd twin,
6 (1.1%) cord/limb prolapsed
and 27 (5.1%) with other indications which include sepsis, gastroenteritis, hypocalcemia, polyhydraminos, urinary tract infections and respiratory tract infections.
Figure 1: Age distribution
Figure 1: Age distribution
Table 1: Indication for Admission via Maternity Department
Results for Out-Patient department
A total of 435 patients were admitted via the out-patient department, giving an average of 145 admissions per month and 5 admissions per day.
Males were 218 (50.1%) and most were children aged 1-15 years 164 (37.7%).
Of the total,
96 (22.1%) had malaria complicated with anaemia,
32(7.4%) gastroenteritis,
29 (6.7%) respiratory tract infections,
28 (6.4%) enteric fever,
26 (6.0%) trauma secondary to road traffic accidents, falls from height, assault or domestic/industrial accidents;
24 (5.5%) cardiac pathologies which include heart failure,
20 (4.6%) cerebrovascular accidents,
16 (3.7%) protein energy malnutrition,
16 (3.7%) febrile convulsions,
15 (3.4%) uncomplicated hypertension,
10 (2.3%) tetanus;
measles, neoplasms and renal pathologies each having 9 cases (2.1%),
and 56 (12.9%) other illnesses like sepsis, dehydration, osteoarthritis, unconsciousness, seizures, hepatic diseases and surgical conditions which include hydrocoele, intestinal obstruction, and haemorrhoids.
Figure 2: Age against sex distribution for Out-patients
Table 2: Indication for Admission via Out-patient Department
Exclusion Criteria
This project exclude all patients who were seen in the hospital but had no folders opened on their behalf.
Bias and Compounders
The inferential statistics obtained from this study may lead to a false valid judgment due to the short duration (3 months) of this research.
Recommendation
My recommendations include:
1. The facts elucidated from this study should be made common knowledge to the masses through the media. Everyone has a right to know.
2. Outreaches/seminar/community dialogue should be held in various health outposts and communities on these top illnesses emphasizing the signs, symptoms and preventive principles.
3. Training of community health extension workers (CHEWs) and clinical assistants in health technology schools should always lay emphasis on these illnesses. Common things occur commonly.
4. Hospitals should be well equipped with research assistants to foster the habit of research so as to monitor disease trends and changes in pattern of presentation.
5. Channeling of health resources and drugs used in treatment of the top diseases should be priority in the State free drugs for Maternal, Neonatal and Children Healthcare Scheme.
Conclusion
The top 3 diseases that were admitted via the maternity department of Ringim Gunduma General Hospital were Anaemia in pregnancy, Eclampsia and Antepartum Haemorrhage.
Figure 2: Age against sex distribution for Out-patients
Table 2: Indication for Admission via Out-patient Department
Exclusion Criteria
This project exclude all patients who were seen in the hospital but had no folders opened on their behalf.
Bias and Compounders
The inferential statistics obtained from this study may lead to a false valid judgment due to the short duration (3 months) of this research.
Recommendation
My recommendations include:
1. The facts elucidated from this study should be made common knowledge to the masses through the media. Everyone has a right to know.
2. Outreaches/seminar/community dialogue should be held in various health outposts and communities on these top illnesses emphasizing the signs, symptoms and preventive principles.
3. Training of community health extension workers (CHEWs) and clinical assistants in health technology schools should always lay emphasis on these illnesses. Common things occur commonly.
4. Hospitals should be well equipped with research assistants to foster the habit of research so as to monitor disease trends and changes in pattern of presentation.
5. Channeling of health resources and drugs used in treatment of the top diseases should be priority in the State free drugs for Maternal, Neonatal and Children Healthcare Scheme.
Conclusion
The top 3 diseases that were admitted via the maternity department of Ringim Gunduma General Hospital were Anaemia in pregnancy, Eclampsia and Antepartum Haemorrhage.
That of the out-patient department were Malaria/Anaemia, Gastroenteritis and Respiratory tract infections.
Health literacy is an important component of health communication thus; information obtained from this study should be made public for the education of the masses.
One thing's obvious, these folks don't eat well. I was expecting to see a lot of meningitis cases though (and honestly, forced hymen rupture (lol,now, I'm trying to sound all medical and sh*t))
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's my connection, but the images won't display.
Great blog, man. Where your egghead friends at?
Nice one Chris...but work on getting the pictures displayed. Wishing you all the very best...
ReplyDeleteit's nt your connection. The charts just wouldn't upload. I Wonder why i could get the pics of the outreach. Thanks for your comments. I'll do better...
ReplyDelete