title: Referral to hospital in Nepal: 4 years' experience in one rural district.
abstract: Formal referral systems have been proposed as a strategy to improve access to secondary care, yet their implementation can be problematic. This paper describes data from referrals in one rural district in Nepal over a 4-year period. Whilst the characteristics of those patients attending hospital after referral were similar to those described in other developing countries, the rate (1.0/1000 population/year) is much lower, especially when compared to estimated need. Geographical and other barriers to access to secondary care in rural Nepal are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Sakriya HIV/AIDS Unit, United Mission to Nepal, Kathmandu. andrew@sakriya.umn.org.np
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Furber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008499:Medical Records; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*