East African medical journal
-
A review of 114 thoracic empyema cases attended in the thoracic unit of the Muhimbili Medical Centre from July 1986 to July 1990 is presented. 87.7% of the cases were males. Their ages ranged from 9 to 79 years with a mean of 32 years. ⋯ The duration of hospital stay ranged from 2-8 months with a mode around 3.5 months. A 7% mortality was noted.
-
A community-based survey on maternal mortality was carried out in the Ejisu health district of Ghana in January and February 1990 to identify all women who died in pregnancy, delivery or the puerperium from January 1985 to December 1989, determine their characteristics, the presumptive causes of death and related factors. Forty-four women who died in pregnancy, delivery or the puerperium were identified over the stated period. 59% were aged between 20 and 34 years. Eighty-two percent were married and sixty-six percent had at least primary education. ⋯ Thirty-four percent of the women who died did not attend any antenatal clinic. The actual number of deaths may be underestimated due to the sampling method used and the difficulties encountered in linking survey data with hospital records. Based on the survey findings and other related PMM research, plans have been developed to reduce maternal mortality in the district as outline in the conclusion.