RESUMO
Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the commonest medical emergencies worldwide associated withsignificant morbidity and mortality and high medical care cost. Worldwide morbidity and mortality associated with UGIB rangesfrom 6-13%. There are scanty data available about the causes of UGIB from peripheral hospitals in Ghana. Aim and Objectives:The study was to determine the common causes of upper GI bleeding in Saint Dominic Hospital, Akwatia a district hospital inGhana. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at endoscopy unit of St. Dominic Hospital.Patients with symptoms of UGIB referred for Gastroscopy were selected and endoscopic findings recorded. Results: Out of the400 patients who underwent gastroscopy during the study period, 107 (26.8%) had upper GI bleeding. 65 (60.8%) of them weremales and the median age was 54 years. Approximately 50% of the patients (57, 53.3%) had only haematemesis. The commonestcause of bleeding was peptic ulcer disease, 40 (37.4%). Conclusion: Peptic ulcer disease was the common cause of UGIB at theSt. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana"