Disease pattern of hospitalized patients in two tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The burden of communicable diseases is high, now the burden of non-communicable disease is also growing hence it important that the distributions of different disease in Tertiary Hospital is known. Unprecedented changes have occurred in the structure of the society that have impacted on health and healthcare system. ¹ Societal expectations from health professionals have increased. ² Disease pattern have changed from disease oriented system to health promotion.
The objective of the study is to determine the pattern of disease of Hospitalized patients in Two Tertiary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria.
Methods: The research design was descriptive. Selection of study area was by convenience of purpose as UNTH Enugu and UCH Ibadan representing Centres of Excellence. Sample was drawn from Nursing manpower. Inclusion criteria required the Nurse manager to be working at the ward level. Instrument for data collection was Data Collection Proforma and Interview Guide. Observation of ward Admission Records from February – April 2004. Qualitative data analysis was used for Data Analysis. Content Analysis was also done.
Results: A total of 1,827 patients were admitted in both Hospitals from February – April 2004. Each patient spent an average of 14.4 days. UNTH alone had 175 Admissions, 45 males, 140 females. UNTH had total of 51 deaths (11 males and 40 females).
UCH alone had 257 Admissions, 52 males, 215 females, in one month. 30 deaths (13 males, 17 females).
Conclusions: The forces that shape and influence medical nursing practice in the Tertiary Hospitals studied are similar. These include a disease burden that is heavily tilted to preventable infectious diseases 30.5% and overstretched by over whelming volume of chronic non-communicable diseases 59% and injuries 10.5%. There is also the effect of poor financing of healthcare system.

Keywords: Disease Patients; Hospitalized Patients; Tertiary Health Care Facility.