title: Hospitalizations for communicable diseases in a developing country: prevalence and trends-Monastir, Tunisia, 2002-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of the epidemiological transition, communicable diseases remain a public health problem and represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the crude and standardized prevalence rates of hospitalizations for communicable disease (HCD) and to assess trends in HCD by age and sex at a university hospital in Tunisia over a period of 12 years (2002-2013).
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of HCD from 2002 to 2013 in the university hospital departments were included. Data collected from the regional register of hospital morbidity were used. The discharge diagnoses were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCD represented 17.45% of all hospitalizations during the study period (34 289/196 488; 95% confidence interval 17.28-17.62%). The median age at the time of admission was 31 years (interquartile range (IQR) 15-52 years). The median hospital length of stay (LOS) was 5days (IQR 3-9 days). The crude prevalence rate (CPR) was 5.41 per 1000 inhabitants. The CPR was highest among patients aged ≥65 years. The four communicable disease categories that represented 70% of all HCD were abdominal infection, skin infection, genitourinary infection, and lower respiratory tract infection. The majority of HCD decreased over time; however, there was a significant increase in HIV diseases, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence of the epidemiological transition, showing a decline in communicable diseases, which needs to be sustained and improved.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Fredj
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia. Electronic address: belguith_asma@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sriha Belguith
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hela
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abroug
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dhouib
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Mhamdi
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Arwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Inès
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouanene
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhiri
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mounira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahtout
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Chawki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loussaief
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR12 SP17), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soussi Soltani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiological transition; Infectious disease; Inpatients; Prevalence; Tunisia