title: Pattern of psychiatric inpatient admission in ibadan: implications for service organisation and planning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reports from different parts of the world has shown a seasonal pattern in psychiatric admission. Seasonal changes in climatic and social situations have been attributed. Such audit of psychiatric services is not a popular research venture in Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to describe the pattern of old psychiatric admissions in a tertiary health facility and the socio-cultural and environmental factors that may influence the pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on monthly admissions over a 5-year period were extracted from the admission and discharge records kept by the nursing services unit. The data was processed using Microsoft excel and the pattern over the 5-year period was examined using graphical representations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2140 admissions during the review period, comprising 1138 ( 53.2%) females and 1002 males. The mean new admission per month was 34.55 (M:16.7, F:18.96) with a standard deviation of 7.49 for all admissions. There was a seasonal pattern in admission. Some socio-cultural and environmental factors that may explain the pattern were examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a seasonal pattern of psychiatric admission in a tertiary health facility in Ibadan. Recommendations were made on how to make use of the knowledge of the seasonal pattern of admission to mitigate disruptions in workload that may be occasioned by the observed pattern.
authors.affiliation: Senior Registrar, Dept of Psychiatry, University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Atilola
authors.affiliation: Nursing Officer, Nursing Services Division, University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Funmilayo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olayiwola
keywords: Admission; Nigeria; Pattern; Psychiatric; Seasons