A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF LASSA FEVER AND FATALITY RATES AMONGST PATIENTS ADMITTED IN A RURAL TEACHING HOSPITAL IN 2016 IN SOUTH SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence and fatality rates of Lassa fever among patients admitted in a rural 
Teaching Hospital in South-South Nigeria in 2016 and the role nurses play in alleviating the pains of 
patients’ relatives.
Materials and Method: Seven thousand one hundred and eighty seven patients admitted into the wards 
in 2016 were retrospectively assessed for prevalence of Lassa fever and fatality. Record review method 
was used to retrieve vital information with respect to biodata, those diagnosed for Lassa fever and those 
who died from the disease condition. The nurses were also interviewed to determine the role they play 
in the alleviation of pain the relatives of Lassa fever patients face. Data was analyzed with the use of 
IBM-SPSS version 21.0. Results were presented in tables and chi squared was used to test the 
association. Level of confidence was set at p<0.05.
Results: Out of the 7,187 patients admitted into the wards in 2016, 842 had Lassa fever representing a 
prevalence of 11.1% while105 of them died from Lassa fever representing a fatality rate of 12.5%. Of the 
60 nurses interviewed, 57% of them had a satisfactory role, while 243% had unsatisfactory role.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Lassa fever in 2016 was 11.7% and the fatality rate was 12.5%. More of 
the nurses interviewed had satisfactory role in alleviating the pains of patients’ relatives