Statistical Analysis of the Queuing System at the OPD in Bolgatanga Regional Hospital

Abstract

Statistical Analysis of the Queuing System at the OPD in Bolgatanga Regional Hospital 1. Background of the Study The total population of the Bolgatanga metropolis was 223,252 in the 2010 population and housing census representing 9 percent of the total population of the Upper East Region of Ghana. This was made up of 11,109 males and 112,143 females constituting 49.8 and 50.2 percent respectively. The metropolis has a predominantly urban population constituting 80.2 percent. Generally, the metropolis depicts a youthful population. The population aged 0-14 years is 81,156 representing 36.4 percent whiles those within 15-64 years who constitute the total labor force are 131,826 representing 59 percent. From the 2018 world population review, it is estimated that the population of the Bolgatanga municipality increased to 360,579 with a growth rate of about 3.5 percent. This rapid increase in population would have so many burdens on the social amenities in the area not excluding the health service delivery institutions. This is highlighted by the fact that the population of the area is dominated by women and children who are by far vulnerable to various chronic diseases. The sanitation situation in the metropolis is a cause for concern as the area produces a lot of waste which are not well managed. Majority of the household within the metropolis are without a toilet which force most of the residents to resort to open defecation which recently placed the Metropolis in the bottom of the open defecation league table. This practice poses serious health threat to the people. Based on the above-mentioned factors, it stands to reason that the demand for various health services in the area will increase substantially. Therefore, the health service delivery institutions in and outside the area often record high attendance because of the proportion of people demanding for health service in those institutions. Beside the various determinants of health service demand outlined above, naturally, everyone become ill at one point of time in his or her life but decision taken by people to seek for good health care is very critical since such decisions can positively or negatively affect health care delivery and by extension the socioeconomic status of the country. The health of every nation according to Ardeson (1983) is everybody's concern but individually, everyone is responsible for his or her