Outcome and Associated Factors among Adult Tetanus Patients Admitted to Jimma University Medical Center: A Retrospective Study

Background: Although, tetanus is a vaccine preventable disease mortality remains high. And despite the establishment of intensive care unit in Jimma University Medical Center the overall mortality reaches up to 40%. This study will question why the outcome of patients has not improved despite the improvement in the setup of ICU and tries to come up with possible associated factors that prognosticated the outcome.

Objective: The objective of this study will be to assess the outcome and factors associated with adult tetanus patients treated at JUMC, ICU from 1st Nov 2019 to 31st March 2021.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at JUMC on admitted patients with the diagnosis of tetanus. The study recruited all admitted patients from 1st Nov 2019 to 31st March 2021 at medical and surgical ICU. A structured checklist will be developed and the relevant information from the patients’ card will be entered in the structured checklist. Outcome will be defined as a binary variable (death, survival) independent variables will be examined for possible association with the dependent variable. Descriptive statistics like means, frequency and tabulations will be used.

Conclusion: Tetanus has high case fatality rate. Prevention of tetanus could have minimized the mortality. Delayed health care seeking by patients had determinant role for management outcome.