Abstract

Knowledge about distribution and burden of diseases in a community is essential for planning of public health services. In the absence of information on morbidity pattern through community based surveys, facility based data provide a good alternative. The aim of this study was to analyze the morbidity pattern of patients attending the PHC/CHCs. A record based descriptive and analytical study was carried out in all PHCs/CHCs located in Firozepur district, Punjab. Information on age, gender, residence, new or old case and principal diagnosis were extracted from the patient registers for the years 2013 to 2015. Descriptive analysis was carried out. About 6.13 lakh patients visited the sampled PHCs/CHCs for seeking treatment during 2013-15. The commonly diagnosed diseases at these centres were belonged to diseases groups such as (i) digestive system; (ii) respiratory system; (iii) eyes and odnexa; (iv) musculo-skelton system & connective tissues; (v) skin and sub-cutaneous tissues. Further, the study pointed out that both among the inpatients and outpatients, more than one-half of patients were females who visited PHCs/CHCs for treatment. There is urgent need to have a state-specific health policy for health care planning and future requirements in the state.