Causes and pattern of death in a tertiary health institution in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: The study reviewed and analysed the causes and pattern of death among patients admitted to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo in the year 2004.

Patients and methods: The case note records of all patients that died on admission in the hospital for the year 2004 were reviewed. A total of 104 cases out of the 114 patients that died were reviewed. Total admission was 1819 for the year.

Results: Annual death rate was 6.3%. Overall, infectious causes of death was the most common (22.1%) ; this was followed by deaths from pregnancy and neonatal preterm related causes(18.3%) while deaths from neurological disorders (stroke, meningitis, and meningo-encephalitis among others) (17.3%); gastro-intestinal disorders(11.6%), respiratory disorders (10.6%) endocrine disorders (7.7%) and others followed in that order. In the medical wards cerebrovascular disease was the leading cause of death; in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, prolonged obstructed labour was the leading cause of death while Paediatrics and Surgery departments had preterm births and head injuries and multiple fractures as the leading causes of death respectively.

Conclusions: Periodic review of hospital deaths could be important in knowing the changing pattern of mortality in our environment. In this study, improvement in the living condition of the citizens, use of potent antibiotics in treating infections and increased patronage of immunisation facilities as ways of control of infections is advocated.