Pattern of diseases or conditions leading to hospitalisation at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana in 1996

Abstract

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is the national referral hospital for Ghana with about 1500 beds and 19 departments. Some Departments notably, department of Medicine and Therapeutics (DMT), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (0 & G) and Department of Child Health (DCH) have had their medical records analysed and published in the past. However, this is the first time a composite and comprehensive study has been done for all departments of the hospital. Data from the admission/ discharge registers from all departments of the hospital were used for the study. Data on age, sex, diagnosis (reason for admission), date of admission, date of discharge and outcome of management were computerized. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (lCD-10) codes were used for the diagnosis. The hospital managed a wide range of diseases, there were over 1560 different (ICD-IO) diseases/ conditions/injuries. A total of 34,598 cases were admitted 10 the hospital in 1996. Pregnancy and childbirth conditions formed 43%, infectious and parasitic diseases formed 8%, injuries and poisoning formed 7% and perinatal period conditions formed 6%. Malaria is still the major cause of hospital admission. The data also showed a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases such as injuries, circulatory diseases, and malignancies. The mortality rate at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was about 30%. Management of abortions and spontaneous deliveries constituted about 30% of the in-patient load of the hospital. Age-specific mortality rates showed high male mortality rates for all age groups. In conclusion, it is feasible to capture and process in-patient records with the present staff and secondly. KBTH is indeed playing a dual role of a national referral hospital and a primary hospital for maternity care. The paper discussed policy implications of these findings land documents the feasibility of salvaging valuable data and possible areas of use of this rich information source.