Y T Olasinde1, M A Alao1, E Agelebe1. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Bowen University Iwo, Nigeria and Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Abstract
BACKROUND: The fiduciary duty of a managing physician makes paediatric discharges against medical advice (DAMA) particularly challenging as children lack the legal power or authority to make their health decisions. Aim: It is aimed in the present study to determine the prevalence of paediatric DAMA in a mission tertiary hospital. METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study carried out from June 2018 to May 2019 among paediatric inpatients at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria whose parent/ care giver signed DAMA, despite adequate counselling. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: The prevalence of DAMA in the study was of 4.1%, and the neonatal group accounted for the largest bulk of DAMA. Birth asphyxia was the commonest diagnosis among this group. There was a slight female predominance among the patients whose parents signed DAMA. Financial constraint was the commonest reason [13(30.2%)] given for DAMA and none of the children whose parents signed DAMA was enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). CONCLUSION: Rate of DAMA in a private mission tertiary hospital was lower than previously reported from government tertiary hospitals in the present-day Nigeria.
BACKROUND: The fiduciary duty of a managing physician makes paediatric discharges against medical advice (DAMA) particularly challenging as children lack the legal power or authority to make their health decisions. Aim: It is aimed in the present study to determine the prevalence of paediatric DAMA in a mission tertiary hospital. METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study carried out from June 2018 to May 2019 among paediatric inpatients at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria whose parent/ care giver signed DAMA, despite adequate counselling. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: The prevalence of DAMA in the study was of 4.1%, and the neonatal group accounted for the largest bulk of DAMA. Birth asphyxia was the commonest diagnosis among this group. There was a slight female predominance among the patients whose parents signed DAMA. Financial constraint was the commonest reason [13(30.2%)] given for DAMA and none of the children whose parents signed DAMA was enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). CONCLUSION: Rate of DAMA in a private mission tertiary hospital was lower than previously reported from government tertiary hospitals in the present-day Nigeria.
Entities:
Keywords:
Discharge against medical advice; Mission hospital; pediatrics; tertiary
Authors: Michael Abel Alao; Olayinka Rasheed Ibrahim; Babatunde Oluwatosin Ogunbosi; Emmanuel Okechukwu Nna; Peter Olamakinde Olapegba Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-02-01