Assessment of potentially preventable hospitalizations in the regional hospital of Saint-Louis, Senegal

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The "potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH)" are hospital admissions that could have been avoided through effective primary care given at the appropriate time. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causes of PPH, are the leading cause of death worldwide with significant socioeconomic consequences especially in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the burden of potentially preventable hospitalizations in the St. Louis regional hospital. METHODS: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The surveyed population consisted of all patients older than one year, admitted to St. Louis hospital for more than four (04) hours time between January 20 and April 30, 2015. Patients hospitalized in surgery (general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology), maternity and neonatology, as well as those who refused or were unable to participate in the study were excluded.

Keywords

• potentially preventable hospitalizations
• non-communicable diseases
• saint-louis