Length of hospital stay and associated factors among adult surgical patients admitted to a surgical ward in Amhara Regional State Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Ethiopia

Introduction Hospitals across the country are experiencing a rise in the length of hospital stays, ranging from 2% to 14%. As a result, patients who remain hospitalized for a prolonged period are three times more likely to suffer in-hospital deaths. Therefore, identifying contributing factors for prolonged hospital stays enhances the ability to improve services and the quality of patient care. However, there is limited documented evidence in Ethiopia as well as in the study area about factors associated with prolonged hospital stays among surgical inpatients.