A
6-Month Review of Medical Admissions in a Nigerian
Teaching Hospital
Obehi A Akoria*, Evelyn I Unuigbe
Department of Medicine, University of Benin Teaching
Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
*For Correspondence:
Tel: 234-805-9855-501 E-mail:
obakoria@yahoo.com
Received:
08-Apr-09 Revised:
30-Apr-09 Accepted:
01-May-09
International Journal of Health Research,
June
2009; 2(2):
125-130 (e223p21-26)
Original
Research Article
Abstract
Purpose:
To
provide an overview of morbidity and mortality in the
medical wards of a teaching hospital and to generate
discussions among staff members with a view to improving
patient outcomes and data handling.
Methods:
A retrospective survey of admissions and mortalities in
the medical wards of the University of Benin Teaching
Hospital was undertaken from 1st January to
30th June 2006, using ward Record and Change
books, and copies of death certificates. Morbidity data
were assessed for two medical wards and mortalities for
all medical admissions within the period under review
were evaluated.
Results:
Health information was managed entirely manually. Data
sources were quite often inaccessible or mutilated, and
the utility of available data was limited by incomplete
and incorrect documentation. No clinical coding of
morbidities or mortalities was available. Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and its
complications accounted for significantly more female
than male admissions (26.1% and 16.2% respectively;
p=0.005), and for more female than male deaths (34.6%
and 29.6% respectively; p < 0.0001). Most deaths
occurred between midnight and the start of the working
day, with a second peak during prime working hours.
Conclusions:
Less than optimal health information management was
apparent in the health facility studied. Mortality among
the patients was highest in HIV-infected patients than
other diseases. Capacity building and appropriate
infrastructural development is required to improve the
management of vitally important health information.
Keywords:
Health information; Morbidity; Mortality; Medical Wards;
Nigeria.
