• A N Ikefuna and I J Emodi.
• Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
• Niger J Clin Pract. 2007 Sep 1; 10 (3): 216-9.

BackgroundIn spite of its limitations, documentation of health facility utilization is an aspect of planning for patient care. Information obtained from such studies is usually useful in evaluating existing facilities, documenting trends in patients needs and improving facilities for patients care.ObjectivesTo assess the characteristics of children who utilize the services of the University Teaching Hospital(UNTH) Enugu for admission and treatment.DesignA prospective study of the characteristics of children admitted consecutively over an eight month period into the Paediatric medical wards of UNTH was determined with the use of a structured questionnaire.ResultsOf the three hundred and thirty seven children admitted into the wards, aged 5 weeks to 18 years, two hundred and five(61%), 78(23%) and 54(16%) belonged to the lower, middle and upper social classes respectively. There was a male preponderance (1.3:1) and 60.5% of the children were less than 5 years of age. The children emergency room (CHER) was the route of admission of 214(63.5%) of the children and was statistically significant for all social classes (p=0.006). The difference in duration of symptoms before presentation in hospital between upper (landII)and lower social (IV and V)classes was statistically significant (p=0.005).ConclusionThe services of this hospital are used mainly by the lower socio economic class of the society. There is a delay in presentation of patients even to emergency room. The delay in presentation of children to hospital for treatment could be due to lack of education or knowledge, economic hardships, and absence of health insurance.

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