TY - JOUR A1 - Afolabi, Olushola A1 - Adekeye, Kehinde A1 - Ofoegbu, Chima A1 - Nasir, Abdulrasheed A1 - Bello, Jubril A1 - Abdur-Rahman, Lukman A1 - Ibraheem, Gbadebo A1 - Solagberu, Babatunde T1 - Socio-demographic profile of medical emergencies at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Y1 - 2017/7/1 JF - African Journal of Trauma JO - Afr J Trauma SP - 37 EP - 41 VL - 6 IS - 2 UR - https://www.afrjtrauma.com/article.asp?issn=1597-1112;year=2017;volume=6;issue=2;spage=37;epage=41;aulast=Afolabi DO - 10.4103/ajt.ajt_7_18 N2 - Background: Hospital emergency departments (EDs) play a vital role in the health-care system, providing care for patients with acute illness and injury, and access to the health system in Nigeria. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the sociodemographic profile of medical presentation seen EDs of a teaching hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients presenting at the medical accident and emergency (A/E) at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a period of 12 months. Ethical approval was obtained from the Hospital Ethical Review Committee to carry out the study. Information obtained includes demographic data, clinical presentation, duration of stay in emergency, and outcome in the EDs within 48 h of arrival. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 computer software, and results were presented in tables and figures. Results: A total of 796 were seen over the study period. About 54.1% (431) were male and 45.9% (365) were female giving a male: female ratio of 1.2:1. Most of the patients (650, 81.7%) were from Ilorin township or its immediate environs, and about 32.4% were unemployed. About 58% (462) of our patients presented to the ED without a referral either from a primary or secondary health care. Stroke accounted for 75 (9.4%) of diagnosis, diabetes mellitus and its complications in 59 (7.4%), systemic hypertension and its complications in 52 (6.5%), malaria in 49 (6.2%), sickle cell anemia in 37 (4.6%), and chronic heart failure in 21 (2.6%). About 29% (231) stayed beyond 24 h on the ED before being moved to the ward, 26% (207) stayed longer than 48 h due to nonavailability of bed space on the ward and financial constraints, while 32.2% were either transferred or discharged within and mortality was recorded in 12.8% (102). Conclusion: Male utilizes the medical ED more than the females, most of the patients were in the younger age group, and majority of whom are self-employed. Most patients were walk-in patients. The most common reason for presentation at the medical ED for admission was stroke which was also the leading cause of death. ER -