MORTALITY TRENDS AMONG INPATIENTS AT A TERTIARY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN ETHIOPIA

Selam Aberra | Bio
Federal Ministry of Health Amanuel Specialized Hospital
Ataly Alem | Bio
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abebaw Fekadu | Bio
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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  • Articles
  • Submited: November 17, 2016
  • Published: June 7, 2018

Abstract

Introduction: Mortality among people with mental illness is higher than the general population. Given the changes in the health service delivery in the past decade in Ethiopia, evaluating the pattern of mortality during this period may provide policy relevant information.  The aim of this study was to assess the mortality pattern in a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Ethiopia.

Method: A case-control design was employed. Using the Health Management Information System  records and clinical records kept at the tertiary hospital; data on inpatient mortality was collected respectively for a period of nine years (2006-2014). Changes in the service configuration were also tracked over the nine years period to explore the potential impact of changes in management upon mortality. Data was analyzed through simple descriptive methods and logistic regression.

Result: A total of 16,081 patients were admitted during the nine year period. The overall mortality rate of inpatients was 2.5/1000 admitted patients. The sex specific all-cause mortality rates were high in females (4.6/1000) than in males (1.8/1000). The mortality rate varied over the nine years between 0.5/1000 to 5.0/1000, with indications of fluctuations commensurate with changes in service organizational changes although these changes were not statistically significant. Although suicide  accounted for the death of 12.5% (n=5), most died of natural causes and also primarily of infectious diseases .

Conclusion:Mortality occurs mainly from preventable causes including suicide. Service reconfigurations may play important role in mitigating mortality. However, further systematic studies are required to determine the impact of service configurations on mortality and general morbidity.

Keywords: Mortality, Pattern of Mortality, Mental Illness, Serious Mental Illness, Inpatient Service, Ethiopia

 

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How to Cite
Aberra, S., Alem, A., & Fekadu, A. (2018). MORTALITY TRENDS AMONG INPATIENTS AT A TERTIARY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN ETHIOPIA. Ethiopian Medical Journal, 56(3). Retrieved from https://www.emjema.org/index.php/EMJ/article/view/539

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