Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya

Background: Low- and middle-income countries carry a high burden of wounds. In such countries, the prevalence and extent of wound burden are hard to quantify because of systemic barriers associated with limited resources. In this study, we report the prevalence of patients presenting with wounds at...

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Main Authors: Julie Zuniga, Margaret Mungai, Moureen Adhiambo, Mary Kwambai, Lorna Obanda, Hellen Jemeli, Bernedicta Chepkorir, O’Brien Kyololo, Mary Kay Foster, Beth Altenburger, Dinah Chelagat, Rodica Muraru, Gregory Westin, Mithun Sinha, Adrian Gardner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139125000289
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author Julie Zuniga
Margaret Mungai
Moureen Adhiambo
Mary Kwambai
Lorna Obanda
Hellen Jemeli
Bernedicta Chepkorir
O’Brien Kyololo
Mary Kay Foster
Beth Altenburger
Dinah Chelagat
Rodica Muraru
Gregory Westin
Mithun Sinha
Adrian Gardner
author_facet Julie Zuniga
Margaret Mungai
Moureen Adhiambo
Mary Kwambai
Lorna Obanda
Hellen Jemeli
Bernedicta Chepkorir
O’Brien Kyololo
Mary Kay Foster
Beth Altenburger
Dinah Chelagat
Rodica Muraru
Gregory Westin
Mithun Sinha
Adrian Gardner
author_sort Julie Zuniga
collection DOAJ
description Background: Low- and middle-income countries carry a high burden of wounds. In such countries, the prevalence and extent of wound burden are hard to quantify because of systemic barriers associated with limited resources. In this study, we report the prevalence of patients presenting with wounds at a regional hospital in Kenya and describe these patients’ characteristics. Methods: A descriptive study of inpatients and outpatients presenting wounds was conducted in Kenya’s teaching and referral hospital. Data on patient characteristics, wound and wound care characteristics, and social determinants of health were collected. Findings: The data comprise point-in-time information for wound prevalence and wound types. Participants (N = 122) were primarily inpatients (68.9 %); 55 % were male. Traumatic chronic wounds were the most prevalent (35.2 %), followed by burn injuries (18.8 %), diabetic foot ulcers (12.3 %), and pressure injuries (9.8 %). Many of the patients (77.9 %) worried at some point that food for their family would run out before they could obtain enough money to buy more, and 75 % reduced their meal portions because they lacked funds to buy sufficient food; almost half (44.1 %) had felt hungry but did not eat due to lack of money to purchase sufficient food for their families. Conclusion: Patients had extensive and multiple wounds, with a history of wounds that were slow-healing, and a large majority suffered from food insecurity. Without addressing social determinants of health, the burden of wound care will remain high in this region.
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spelling doaj-art-5ba3fce547f746f4b8fd14dff05cb3602025-08-20T03:10:39ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912025-01-012210084110.1016/j.ijans.2025.100841Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western KenyaJulie Zuniga0Margaret Mungai1Moureen Adhiambo2Mary Kwambai3Lorna Obanda4Hellen Jemeli5Bernedicta Chepkorir6O’Brien Kyololo7Mary Kay Foster8Beth Altenburger9Dinah Chelagat10Rodica Muraru11Gregory Westin12Mithun Sinha13Adrian Gardner14The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Corresponding author.Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi Teaching and Referral Hospital, KenyaMoi University, KenyaIndiana University Health System, United StatesIndiana University Health System, United StatesMoi University, KenyaDepartment of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, United StatesDepartment of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, United StatesDepartment of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, United StatesIndiana University School of Medicine, United StatesBackground: Low- and middle-income countries carry a high burden of wounds. In such countries, the prevalence and extent of wound burden are hard to quantify because of systemic barriers associated with limited resources. In this study, we report the prevalence of patients presenting with wounds at a regional hospital in Kenya and describe these patients’ characteristics. Methods: A descriptive study of inpatients and outpatients presenting wounds was conducted in Kenya’s teaching and referral hospital. Data on patient characteristics, wound and wound care characteristics, and social determinants of health were collected. Findings: The data comprise point-in-time information for wound prevalence and wound types. Participants (N = 122) were primarily inpatients (68.9 %); 55 % were male. Traumatic chronic wounds were the most prevalent (35.2 %), followed by burn injuries (18.8 %), diabetic foot ulcers (12.3 %), and pressure injuries (9.8 %). Many of the patients (77.9 %) worried at some point that food for their family would run out before they could obtain enough money to buy more, and 75 % reduced their meal portions because they lacked funds to buy sufficient food; almost half (44.1 %) had felt hungry but did not eat due to lack of money to purchase sufficient food for their families. Conclusion: Patients had extensive and multiple wounds, with a history of wounds that were slow-healing, and a large majority suffered from food insecurity. Without addressing social determinants of health, the burden of wound care will remain high in this region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139125000289WoundSub-Saharan AfricaPressure ulcerSocial determinants of health
spellingShingle Julie Zuniga
Margaret Mungai
Moureen Adhiambo
Mary Kwambai
Lorna Obanda
Hellen Jemeli
Bernedicta Chepkorir
O’Brien Kyololo
Mary Kay Foster
Beth Altenburger
Dinah Chelagat
Rodica Muraru
Gregory Westin
Mithun Sinha
Adrian Gardner
Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Wound
Sub-Saharan Africa
Pressure ulcer
Social determinants of health
title Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
title_full Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
title_fullStr Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
title_short Wound burden: A point prevalence study at an academic hospital in Western Kenya
title_sort wound burden a point prevalence study at an academic hospital in western kenya
topic Wound
Sub-Saharan Africa
Pressure ulcer
Social determinants of health
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139125000289
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