Disease patterns in the medical wards of a rural South African hospital

Abstract

A retrospective record review was done to determine disease patterns of patients admitted in the medical wards of St. Rita's Hospital, in rural Limpopo Province of South Africa. Hypertension dominated the disease pattern followed by pulmonary tuberculosis, gastro-enteritus, pneumonia and ashtma. The findings of this study suggest that diseases prominent in the affluent urban population affect patients seen at this rural hospital.