A descriptive analysis of patient encounter data from the Fleet Hospital FIVE humanitarian relief mission in Haiti

Fleet Hospital FIVE personnel treated more than 24,000 patients during a 1997 military operation other than war in Haiti. Sample data were analyzed for 10,215 Haitians who received humanitarian assistance care at field treatment sites and for 353 military, United Nations personnel, and Haitian nationals who were treated at the fleet hospital. Demographic data, type of encounter, diagnoses, and prescriptions were tabulated. Children aged 1 to 10 years accounted for 31% of humanitarian assistance visits. Females outnumbered males; in adults aged 21 to 30 years, the proportion was almost three to one. Most (97%) were initial encounters. Infectious and parasitic diseases, such as worms or scabies, accounted for 25% of diagnoses. At the fleet hospital, more than 80% of patients were males; these were most often older than 21 years. Injuries and aftercare procedures constituted 51.5% of diagnoses. Of 18,100 prescriptions, 57% were for anti-inflammatories, vitamins, or anti-parasitics. Implications for medical planning are described.