Referral pattern of patients received at the national referral hospital: challenges in low income countries

Mbembati, Naboth A.

Referral pattern of patients received at the national referral hospital: challenges in low income countries

dc.contributor.author	Mbembati, Naboth A.
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-15T10:57:06Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-15T10:57:06Z
dc.date.issued	2008
dc.description.abstract	Objective: To examine the medical referral pattern of patients received at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in order to inform the process of strengthening the referral system. Methods: The study design was a prospective study conducted at MNH during a 10-week study period from January to March 2004. The study sample consisted of patients referred to MNH Results: Of the 11,412 patients seen, 72.5% were self-referrals. More than 70% of the patients seen required admission, though not necessarily at tertiary level. Only 0.8% came from outside the Dar es Salaam region. More than 70% of the patients seen required admission. Surgical services were required by 66.8% of patients, with obstetric conditions being most prominent (24.6% of all patients). For those who were formally referred from other health services, lack of expertise and equipment were the most common reasons given for referral (96.3%). Conclusion: Efforts to improve referral systems in low-income countries require that the primary and secondary level hospitals services be strengthened and increased so as to limit inappropriate use of national referral hospitals.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Simba, D.O., Mbembati, N.A., Museru, L.M. and Lema, L.E., 2008. Referral pattern of patients received at the national referral hospital: challenges in low income countries. East African Journal of Public Health, 5(1), pp.6-9.	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	http://www.bioline.org.br/abstract?lp08002
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/523
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	East African Journal of Public Health	en_US
dc.subject	Tanzania	en_US
dc.subject	Referral system	en_US
dc.subject	Tertiary hospitals	en_US
dc.title	Referral pattern of patients received at the national referral hospital: challenges in low income countries	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US