Causes of Delay among Patients Seen at the Fracture Clinic at Menilik II Hospital.

Background: In the third world countries like Ethiopia most patients reach fracture clinic delayed often loosing the golden time. The objective of this study is to analyze the factors causing delays of patients from reaching to fracture clinic early for treatment. Method: A cross sectional study of 198 patients seen at the Fracture Clinic of Menilik II Hospital between 19/8/06-8/2/06. Only those which were delayed for more than three days were included. Results: Of the 198 patients interviewed, 144 (72.7%), were males and 54 (27.3%) were females. Their age ranged from 8 to 86 years with a mean age of 38.7. Delay time ranged from 3 days to 365 days with a mean delay time of 25 days. The causes of delays were analyzed. The leading cause of delays was spending more time at traditional bone setter accounting for sixty cases(30%),hospital bureaucracy fifty- five cases(28%),Geographical distance forty-six cases(25%),self neglect eleven cases (6%),helplessness eleven cases(6%),privet clinic seven cases(3,5%),financial problems seven cases(3.5%). Conclusion: The two leading causes of delay of patients to fracture clinic were traditional bone setters and Hospital bureaucracy. Traditional bone setters luck basic knowledge of how to handle injured parts and impending sign of ischemia. Hospitals have poor registration system and poor filling system. Recommendations: There is a need for sustained health education to discourage patronage of traditional bonesetters and advertisement of their service on print and electronic media. The medical regulatory bodies should design program that can give basic training to traditional bone setters for safe application of splint and easily identification of sign of ischemia. Improve the working conditions of hospitals by computerizing the registration and filling system