The pattern of symptoms in patients receiving home based care in Bangwe, Malawi : a descriptive study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Home based care of HIV/AIDS patients is a health need recommended but not often available in Africa. Population based assessment helps to identify unmet health needs to plan services. Careful assessment and follow up of patients receiving home based care in a defined population of Bangwe, Malawi provides details of the frequency and severity of common symptoms.

Methods

Mortality and the incidence, duration and severity of common symptoms of patients in a defined population receiving home based care were measured over an eighteen month period.

Results

358 patients, of whom 199 died, were studied. A third of patients died within 4 months of being first seen. About half the patients were unable to care for themselves on first assessment. Half were malnourished

SUBMITTER: Bowie C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1382199 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature