Assessment of the current capacity of intensive care units in Uganda; A descriptive study
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Critical Care
Abstract
Purpose: To describe the organizational characteristics of functional ICUs in Uganda.
Methods: A descriptive survey of 12 ICUs in Uganda; ICU organisation, structure, staffing, and support facilities. A
functional ICU was defined as one that admitted critically ill patients and had the ability to provide mechanical
ventilation. ICUswere selected based on information of their existence. Direct structured interviewswere carried
out with the ICU directors.
Results: Of the fourteen ICUs reviewed, 12 were functional, and a majority were located in the central region.
There were 55 ICU beds making up a ratio of 1.3 ICU beds per million population. The ICU beds comprised 1.5
% of the total bed capacity of studied hospitals. Most of the ICUs [11] were mixed (paediatric-adults),
anaesthesia-led (nine) and five operated in a closed model. There were 171 ICU nurses, of whom 13 had formal
training in critical care nursing. Themajority of the ICUs had a nurse to patient ratio ≥ 1.2; nine during the day and
seven at night.
Conclusions: This study shows limited accessibility to critical care services in Uganda.With a high variability in the
ICU operational characteristics, there is a need for standardization of ICU care in the country.
Description
Keywords
Critical care medicine, Bed capacity, Low-income country, ICU-design Uganda
Citation
Atumanya, P., Sendagire, C., Wabule, A., Mukisa, J., Ssemogerere, L., Kwizera, A., & Agaba, P. K. (2020). Assessment of the current capacity of intensive care units in Uganda; A descriptive study. Journal of Critical Care, 55, 95-99.