Hospital catchment areas and surgery in Meru district, Kenya

This study of the geographical locations of homesteads of patients undergoing surgery at three hospitals in Meru district, Kenya, showed largely overlapping catchment areas. It also showed catchment areas varying in size with the type of surgical operation under study: Caesarean section, exploratory laparotomy, uterine evacuation, tubal ligation, and normal child delivery. We conclude that catchment areas vary with the disease condition and the health care intervention under study. A precise definition of the catchment area population concept should be developed by ministries of health and then explained to district health teams and health care facility managers for local use in epidemiological surveillance and health care planning.