Trends in adult medical admissions in a rural South African hospital between 1991 and 2002

Reid, A., Dedicoat, Martin, Lalloo, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7680-2200 and Gilks, C.F. (2005) 'Trends in adult medical admissions in a rural South African hospital between 1991 and 2002'. Jaids-Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Vol 40, Issue 1, pp. 53-56.

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Abstract

South Africa is one of the countries most severely affected by the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The effects of increased numbers of sick patients on rural district hospitals are not well documented. This study summarizes the changes in number and type of hospital admissions to the medical wards of a small rural district hospital in Northern KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa, between 1991 and 2002. For the same 2-month period, across the study period total admissions rose by 228 to 626 patients with no increase in hospital staff or capacity. Length of inpatient stay fell from 10.9 to 7.9 days, and inpatient mortality rose from 8% to 20%. The median age of female patients fell from 50 to 34 years, and the median male patient's age fell from 45 from 39 years over the study period. After 1991, tuberculosis became the most frequent diagnosis, and in 2002 it was the leading cause of death. The HIV epidemic has increased the number of medical hospital admissions, primarily infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, lower respiratory infection, and diarrheal illness. Comprehensive strategies are needed to reduce the community burden of services.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	africa rural hiv hiv tuberculosis prevalence nairobi malawi impact wards aids
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503.5 Complications
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2011 10:52
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2024 13:48
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1909

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