Magnitude and leading causes of in-hospital mortality at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, northern Nigeria: A 4-year prospective analysis

Abstract

Background: Population based mortality data are scarce especially in developing countries including Nigeria. Despite its limitations, hospital mortality analysis assesses the quality of health-care delivery and provides a proximate measure of mortality. We reviewed the magnitude and causes of death among in-patients in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria. Methods: Analysis of mortality rate and causes of death for the period 20052008 (inclusive) in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Causes of death were prospectively entered on a database and classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).Results: Out of 51,975 patients admitted to the hospital, 4,029 of them died. This gives a mortality rate of 7.8% (95% Confidence Interval of 7.5% to 8.0%). Specifically, of the 15,484 males admitted, 2,361 died giving a mortality rate of 15.2% while of the 36,491 females admitted, 1,668 died giving a mortality rate of 4.6%. The median age for all patients that died was 32.4 years (range: less than 1 day to 101 years), but 36.1 years (range: less than 1 day to 101 years) for the male and 29.3 (range: less than 1 day to 87 years) for the female subsets. The ten most common causes of mortality were HIV/AIDS (8.3%), Septicaemia (6.8%), cerebrovascular disease (6.3%), chronic renal failure (3.9%) chronic liver disease (3.3%), diabetes mellitus (3.2), neonatal jaundice (2.9%), severe birth asphyxia (2.6%), prematurity (2.5%) and bronchopneumonia (2.4%). Conclusion:The mortality rate and causes of death are comparable to similar centres. Regular mortality audits could identify management errors and prevent recurrence of avoidable deaths.

Perception of Eye Care Services among Patients Attending Mercy Eye Centre, Abak

“…In a study by Ezegwui et al [5], where only 6.2% of the patients were satisfied with the cost of services, cost was also noted as a major dissatisfaction area. However, some other researchers [6,9] have reported higher satisfaction levels in contrast to our findings.…”

“…Despite these challenges 79.5% of the participants were generally satisfied with the services provided by the hospital. Other researchers [5,6,9] have reported even higher levels of general satisfaction. Of the participants who have visited other hospitals for eye care, 80.4% feel our treatment is more effective, 73.2% feel our staff are more proficient and 73.2% feel our staff have better attitude.…”

“…This is more than the 30.3% reported by Ezegwui et al [5] in south-eastern Nigeria, and 37.8% by Rizyal [8] in Nepal. However waiting time has been noted as a major area of dissatisfaction among patients by other researchers [1,6,9]. The long waiting time may be attributed to the high patient load with few eye care personnel to attend to them.…”

Selected issues related to transplantation in students’ opinion taking into account sociodemographic factors

“…Problemy związane z transplantacją związane są w głównej mierze z małą popularnością i traktowaniem jej jako tematu tabu oraz z dysproporcji stosunku biorców do dawców, których liczba przewyższa liczbę osób deklarujących oddanie narządów [4]. Nie tylko w Polsce, ale i na świecie liczba dawców jest niewystarczająca i wg dostępnych danych jest mniejsza niż liczba zadeklarowanych dawców, pomimo zwiększonej liczby deklaracji woli oddania organów po śmierci [4,[8][9][10]. Istotne znaczenie w zmianie postrzegania tej formy pomocy ma edukacja i uświadamianie społeczeństwa, a w tym poznanie motywów, którymi kierują się dawcy i ich najbliżsi w podejmowaniu tej trudnej decyzji [4].…”

Filtered sunlight versus intensive electric powered phototherapy in moderate-to-severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

“…2 The WHO South-East Asia Region has the second highest rate (251•3 per 10 000 livebirths), whereas the rate in the WHO Americas Region is only 3•7 per 10 000 livebirths. Several hospital-based studies [3][4][5][6] have shown that severe hyperbilirubinaemia contributes substantially to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to two 2017 reports, 7,8 19•4% and 9•0% of the deaths at two Nigerian facilities were due to jaundice and acute bilirubin encephalopathy, respectively.…”