Impact of HMAIDS on Mortality among the Inpatients at Motebang Hospital, Lesotho
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Date
2004
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
This was a descriptive retrospective study of the mortality trends among inpatients at Motebang Hospital in Lesotho. The hypothesis was that AIDS had modified the mortality pattern so predictably that its impact could be quantified. The rationale was that if the hypothesis could be confirmed, the mortality trends could supplement other methods of estimating the impact of HIV/AIDS such as extrapolation of data from antenatal clinics (ANC) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) sentinel surveillance sites, and that the ASSA2000 prediction model could be used reliably in Lesotho. Data for diagnosis, outcome, gender, age, and date of admission and discharge or death were collected from hospital records for the period extending from 1st January 1989 to 31't December 2003. The l5-year period was divided into three 5-year
periods (198911993, 199411998, and 199912003) and the diagnoses were grouped into GBD Group I, II, and III. The data were analysed to establish time, gender and age trends. Mortality rate and number of deaths increased over the l5-year period. Group I (communicable diseases, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions) contributed 69%o of all deaths. The progressive rise in mortality was most pronounced in the 15-49-year range. A bulge, on the mortality incidence by age graph of the aforementioned age range, was well established in the last five-year period (199912003). The peak of the bulge on the graph of the females occurred in the 25-29-year range, five years earlier than that on the graph of the males. This was the unique trend that had been attributed to AIDS and it was therefore clear that AIDS had modified the mortality trend among the Motebang Hospital's inpatients. The study found that AlDS -related deaths accounted for 5l-65% of the total deaths and 70-80% of the Group I deaths. Although the number of the inpatients in Group II was low, there was evidence of an
increasing burden from non-communicable diseases. However, the burden from Group III [injuries] remained stable. The conclusion arising from the study was that AIDS has had a unique impact on the mortality of the Motebang Hospital's inpatients, and that this evidence could be
used, inter alia, in the formulation of public policy and as a benchmark for the evaluation of current and future HIV/AIDS interventions.
Description
Magister Chirurgiae Dentium - MChD
Keywords
Mortality, HIV/AIDS, Lesotho, Africa, Time trends, Disease impact, Hospital care, Impact of HIV/AIDS, Inpatients' Mortality, Disease burden