The disease profile of poverty: morbidity and mortality in northern Uganda in the context of war, population displacement and HIV/AIDS
Accorsi, S.; Fabiani, M.; Nattabi, B.; Corrado, B.; Iriso, R.; Ayella, E.O.; Pido, B.; Onek, P.A.; Ogwang, M.; Declich, S.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 99(3): 226-233
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-9203 PMID: 15653126 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2004.09.008Document Number: 282407
The population of Gulu District, northern Uganda, has been severely incapacitated by war, epidemics and social disruption. This study aimed to describe the disease patterns and trends in this area through a retrospective analysis of discharge records for 155 205 inpatients of Lacor Hospital during 1992-2002. The burden of infectious diseases in childhood was overwhelming, with malaria accounting for the steepest increase in admissions. Admissions for war-related injuries and malnutrition fluctuated with the intensity of war and severity of famine. Emerging and re-emerging infections, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Ebola, accounted for a heavy disease burden; however, there was a decreasing trend for admissions related to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis since the implementation of community-based services. Vulnerable groups (infants, children and women) accounted for 79.8% of admissions. It is concluded that long-term war, population displacement, collapse of social structures, and breakdown of the health system place people at a much greater risk of persistent, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, malnutrition and war-related injuries, shaping the 'disease profile of poverty'. Most of the disease burden result from infectious diseases of childhood, whose occurrence could be dramatically reduced by low-cost and effective preventive and curative interventions.
Document emailed within 0-6 h
