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Patient Characteristics from an Emergency Care Center in Rural Western Kenya.
- Source :
-
Journal of Emergency Medicine (0736-4679) . Jan2019, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p80-86. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Emergency care is a neglected area of focus in many low- and middle-income countries. There is a paucity of research on types and frequencies of acute illnesses and injuries in low-resource settings.<bold>Objective: </bold>The primary objective of this study was to describe the demographic characteristics and emergency conditions of patients that presented to a new emergency care center (ECC) at Sagam Community Hospital in Luanda, Kenya.<bold>Methods: </bold>Patient demographic characteristics, modes of arrival, chief symptoms, triage priorities, self-reported human immunodeficiency virus status, tests performed, interventions, discharge diagnoses, and dispositions were collected for all patients that presented to the Sagam Community Hospital ECC.<bold>Results: </bold>Between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017, 14,518 patients presented to the ECC. The most common mode of arrival to Sagam Community Hospital was by foot (n = 12,605 [86.8%]). There were 8931 (61.5%) female patients and 5571 (38.4%) male patients. Of the total visits, 12,668 (87.3%) were triaged Priority III (lowest priority), 1239 (8.5%) were Priority II, and 293 (2.0%) were Priority I (highest priority). The most common chief symptoms were headache (n = 3923 [15.2%]), hotness of body or chills (n = 2877 [8.8%]), and cough (n = 1827 [5.5%]). The three most common discharge diagnoses were malaria (n = 3692 [18.9%]), acute upper respiratory infection (n = 1242 [6.3%]), and gastritis/duodenitis (n = 1210 [6.2%]).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Although opening an ECC in rural Kenya attracted patients in need of care, access was limited primarily to those that could arrive on foot. ECCs in rural sub-Saharan Africa have the potential to provide quality care and support attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07364679
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Emergency Medicine (0736-4679)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 134214275
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.10.019