The morbidity burden from emergency conditions in Jimma city, Southwest Ethiopia

•The burden of acute diseases presented to public hospitals in Jimma city was identified.•Seasonal pattern in in infectious and non-infectious emergency diseases was identified.•Traumatic injuries, Obstetric emergencies, Lower respiratory infections and neonatal emergencies were the most frequent causes of visits.•Top 20 causes of emergency visits by aggregate categories of diseases and by age categories were identified.