Almaz Mamaru , Yimenu Yitayih , Matiwos Soboka , Liyew Agenagnew , Birhanie Mekuriaw , Muluken Assefa, Minichil Genet , Molla Yigezaw , Yabsra Melaku , and Kristina Adorjan
Mental illness is a leading cause of disability. However, little reliable and valid epidemiological information is available on mental disorders, but we need such information if we want to improve mental health care services for the mentally ill. Therefore, we conducted the current study to obtain information on the sociodemographic and illness characteristics of people admitted to the psychiatric clinic at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia. We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of data on admissions to the clinic from July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019. Cases were admitted by mental health specialists and all admitted cases were included. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 22 for Windows 7. Admission rates were described with cross-tabulation and frequency statistics. In the study period, 265 patients were admitted, 68.3% (n=181) of whom were men. The mean (SD) age was 27 (8) years, and the largest group (n=105, 39.6%) was aged 25-34 years. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was schizophrenia (n=100, 37.7%), followed by bipolar disorder, (n=79, 29.8%) and major depressive disorder with psychotic features (n=37, 14.0%). The mean length of hospital stay was 26 days. In Ethiopia, only limited data are available on admissions for psychiatric disorders, particularly in general hospitals that provide psychiatric services. The data on patterns of psychiatric admissions to a general hospital in Ethiopia obtained in this study will help improve clinical decision making and service delivery.