Reasons for referrals and time spent from referring sites to arrival at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in emergency obstetric: A prospective study

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Problems associated with emergency obstetrics referrals often cause serous life threatening conditions.

Objective: The objective was to determine the reasons and conditions in emergency obstetrics referrals and the time spent in the process of referral.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in a Federal Referral and University Teaching Hospital (Tikur Anbesa Hospital) in Addis Ababa. The data were collected from the referral notes and by interviewing.

Results: The Hospital had received 496 emergency referrals of which 459(92.5%) were from within Addis Ababa city and 37(7.5%) from outside. A mean delay time from arrival at referring sites to arrival at Tikur Anbessa Hospital was four and half-hours (two hours 48 minutes at referring site plus one hour and 42 minutes of referral-arrival interval). In 86% of cases, the reasons for referral were non-medical.

Conclusion: Referrals from hospitals within the city were mainly for non-medical reasons and late. These referring hospitals can render themselves an effective obstetric care if conditions are improved. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2001;15(1):17-23]