Re-hospitalisation Of Children in liesa

Abstract

Summary: Six hundred and sixty-nine children (419 males and 250 females) readmitted to the Wesley Guild Hospital, llesa, over a ten year period were reviewed. The children consituted 2.53% of all admissions during the period. Over two thirds of the fathers th known occupations were in social classes IV and Vwhilst 90% of the children were aged 5 years and below at the time of first hospitalisation which lasted an average period of 7.4 days. Of the total 935 readmissions, 15.4% were affected within a month and 70% within a year of discharge. Whilst the overall mean number of readmissions per patient was 1.4, it was 2.2 for sicklers, 1.9 for asthmatics and 1.7 for epileptics. Most of the readmissions were unplanned or emergencies and at least 18.7% were preventable. The first and repeat admissions were affected more frequently during the rainy than dry season espe cially for sicklers, asthmatics and malnourished children.