Risk factors for readmission among a cohort of psychiatric inpatients in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Objectives: Inpatient psychiatric capacity is limited in Malawi and no published studies have assessed psychiatric readmissions there. Information about factors associated with readmission may help guide strategies to reduce readmission rates and keep patients stabilised in the community. Our goal was to determine factors associated with readmission among a cohort of psychiatric inpatients in Lilongwe, Malawi.Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit in Lilongwe, Malawi from January 1 to December 31, 2011. We used logistic regression to test for associations between readmissions during the study period and patient variables.Results: 419 patients were hospitalised during the study period. Twenty-nine patients (6.9%) were readmitted at least once during the study period. Readmission was associated only with intentional medication non-adherence at home (aOR: 3.33, p = 0.02).Conclusions: Intentional medication non-adherence is a potentially modifiable behaviour associated with psychiatric readmission. Efforts to improve medication adherence among patients following hospital discharge may help decrease the risk of readmission.KEY POINTSThe prevalence of readmission among psychiatric inpatients in Lilongwe, Malawi was 6.9% during the 1-year study period.Readmission was associated with intentional medication non-adherence at home.Future research efforts in Malawi should focus on improving medication adherence among psychiatric patients in the community to help decrease rates of readmission.

Factors associated with long length of stay in an inpatient psychiatric unit in Lilongwe, Malawi.

PURPOSE: Studies of factors affecting length of stay during psychiatric hospitalization in sub-Saharan Africa are sparse. A better understanding of such factors may lead to interventions resulting in quicker patient stabilization and discharge, freeing up needed psychiatric beds and reducing health care system expenditures. Therefore, we sought to identify factors associated with long length of stay in Malawi. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 417 patients hospitalized at Kamuzu Central Hospital's Bwaila Psychiatric Unit in Lilongwe, Malawi from January 1 to December 31, 2011. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to test for associations between patient factors and long length of stay (defined as more than 28 days). RESULTS: Mean length of stay was 22.08 ± 27.70 days (range 0-243). 21.82% (91/417) of patients stayed longer than 28 days. Long length of stay was associated with living outside of Lilongwe district [aOR: 3.65 (1.66-8.01), p = 0.001] and treatment for antipsychotic extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) during hospitalization [aOR: 3.45 (1.32-9.03), p = 0.012]. Patients who had more interactions with medical providers for this episode of illness prior to presentation at the unit were less likely to have a long length of stay [aOR: 0.35 (0.16-0.76), p = 0.008]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate areas of possible intervention to reduce length of stay, including securing means for patient transport home, rapid identification and treatment of EPS, and reducing the risk of EPS by decreased use of high potency first-generation antipsychotics.

Description of the inpatient population and care received at a psychiatric unit in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Like in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, descriptive data about psychiatric inpatients and inpatient psychiatric care in Malawi is limited. This study describes the inpatient population at the Bwaila Hospital Psychiatric Unit in Lilongwe, Malawi, as well as treatments received and treatment outcomes. Records of 419 psychiatric inpatients hospitalized from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 were reviewed. Patients were primarily male (73.0%) and were most commonly referred from district hospitals (46.4%). Nearly all patients were involuntarily hospitalized under Malawi's Mental Treatment Act (94.2%). Schizophrenia (30.1%), cannabis use disorder (27.9%) and alcohol use disorder (25.1%) were the most common diagnoses. Suicidal ideation was reported by 4.8% of patients and 2.4% had attempted suicide prior to admission. Homicidal ideation was reported by 7.3% of patients and 5.1% of patients assaulted another patient during their hospitalization. Mean length of stay was 22.1 ± 27.7 days (range: 1.0-243.0). Chlorpromazine (81.3%), diazepam (75.8%), carbamazepine (59.8%) and fluphenazine (56.0%) were the most commonly used medications on the ward. Stabilization and discharge to home was the most common outcome (68.0%), followed by transfer to another hospital (19.5%), discharge against medical advice (8.2%), abscondment (3.4%) and death (1.0%).

Factors associated with the use of seclusion in an inpatient psychiatric unit in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Background: Data on the use of seclusion for psychiatric inpatients in sub-Saharan Africa are extremely limited. Though seclusion is sometimes necessary for patients that pose a threat to themselves or others, adverse physical and psychological sequelae from the experience are increasingly being recognized, leading to efforts to reduce its use. The purpose of this study was to calculate the frequency of seclusion in patients hospitalized in an inpatient psychiatric unit in Lilongwe, Malawi, and to identify factors associated with its use. Methods: Records of 419 psychiatric inpatients hospitalized at Kamuzu Central Hospital's Bwaila Psychiatric Unit in Lilongwe, Malawi, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with the use of seclusion. Results: Seclusion was used for 30.3% (127/419) of patients during the study period. Male patients had increased odds of being secluded (aOR: 2.22, p=0.02). Assaulting other patients on the unit (aOR 7.92, p<0.01) and presenting to the unit in mechanical restraints (aOR 2.33, p<0.01) were also associated with seclusion. There was no association between seclusion and age; diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, marijuana use disorder, or schizophrenia; involuntary admission; presence of extra pyramidal side effects; presence of hallucinations; suicidality; or commission of violent acts prior to admission. Conclusions: Documentation about the rationale for the use of seclusion on the unit was minimal. Improved record keeping requirements will be essential to future efforts to study seclusion and reduce its use. Development of strategies to address patient violence on the unit could decrease the use of seclusion for aggressive patients. Patients arriving to the unit in restraints would benefit from increased efforts by staff to apply behavioural interventions or administer medications, in order to deescalate these individuals and limit the use of seclusion in their treatment.