The general impression of a heavy workload for rural hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa is illustrated by a quantification for 16 parameters, based on data in 120 annual reports from 40 hospitals. The figures presented in this study can be looked upon as “figures of reference” which hospitals can use for reflection on their own data.
Comparison with other studies is made possible by presenting the figures after conversion to an assumed population of 100 000. Marginal notes are made on the comparability of the data as presented by the hospitals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
JoostenGPA.Nederlandse artsen in de Tropen. Medisch Contact1983;41:859–61.
2.
“Hospitals and health for all”. Report of a WHO Expert Committee on the Role of Hospitals at the First Referral Level. Technical Report Series 744. WHO, 1987.
3.
de KokHJGHamelJLAnnual hospital reports in the context of primary health care. Geneva: WHO, 1986.
4.
BottomsSFRosenMGSokolRJ.The increase in Caesarean birth rate. N Eng J Med1980;302:559–63.
5.
NordbergEM.Incidence and estimated need of caesarean section, inguinal hernia repair, and operation for strangulated hernia in rural Africa. Br Med J1984;289:92–3.
6.
LawsonJBStewartDB.Obstetrics and gynaecology in the tropics, 3rd edn.London: Edward Arnold, 1974.
7.
AggarwalVP.Obstetric emergency referrals to Kenyatta National Hospital. East Afr Med J1980;57:144–9.
8.
HoogendoornD.De keizersnede in Nederland: Frequentie, maternale en perinatale sterfte. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd1975;119:77–80.
