Original Research
Morbidity profile in a rural community-based rehabilitation programme in Butembo, North Kivu Province, Congo
Submitted: 03 August 2010 | Published: 08 June 2011
About the author(s)
Prosperine V. Masika, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Graben, Congo, the Democratic Republic of theProsper M. Lutala, Faculty of Medicine, University of Goma, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the conditions encountered during rehabilitation in Butembo and to identify the trends of the five most common conditions during the study period.
Method: Data were extracted from a rehabilitation programme connect to one centre in Butembo. A descriptive retrospective medical study was performed for the period between 2004 and 2007. Descriptive statistics with percentages were computed. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences with a probability of 5%.
Results: Cerebral palsy (46.9%), cataract (17.3%), clubfoot (11.8%), glaucoma (6.8%), and cleft lip (4.5%) were the most commonly encountered conditions, with cerebral palsy the most common condition throughout the study period. With regard to gender, male patients were significantly more affected by cataracts (p = 0.0290), clubfoot (p < 0.0100) and glaucoma (p < 0.0100) than female patients. Children aged five or younger had a higher incidence of cerebral palsy (χ2 = 263.2, df = 1, p = 0.0000) cataract (p = 0.0170), clubfoot (p < 0.0010), and glaucoma (p = 0.0010). Additionally, the overall comparisons by gender and age demonstrated differences for the five most common conditions (χ2 = 15.3, df = 4, and p = 0.0040; and χ2 = 114, df = 4, and p < 0.0001 for gender and age, respectively).
Conclusion: Common conditions and associated factors were identified that will add to the effectiveness of the programme in terms of materials needed, staff skills, and programming. Special skills are still needed to help treat some acute conditions that can be handled at the rehabilitation centre, and a triage of attending rehabilitation centres could improve the effectiveness of the programme and lower the possibility of missed opportunities for acute stage patients.
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