S Getachew1, E Ali2, K Tayler-Smith2, B Hedt-Gauthier3, W Silkondez4, D Abebe5, W Deressa1, F Enquessilase1, J K Edwards6. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2. Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), Luxembourg, Luxembourg. 3. Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda ; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 4. National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland. 5. Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 6. Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), Luxembourg, Luxembourg ; School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
SETTING: The emergency department (ED) of Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To document the proportion, trend, characteristics and outcomes of road traffic injury (RTI) related ED admissions (⩾15 years) between 2014 and 2015. DESIGN: A retrospective, cross-sectional study using routinely collected ED data. RESULTS: Of 10 007 ED admissions, 779 (8%) were RTI cases; this proportion peaked in the month of January (11%). Medical records were available for 522 (67%) of these RTI cases. The median age was 28 years and 69% were males. The majority were pedestrians (69%) injured by an automobile (78%). On triage, 32% were classified as needing urgent/immediate intervention. Head injuries (20%) were the second most common injury after lower limb injuries (36%). ED outcomes were as follows: discharged (68%), hospitalised (17%), referred (17%) and died (1%). Among the 78 hospitalised cases, respectively 62% and 16% were admitted to the surgical and orthopaedic departments. Of 146 RTI cases with head injuries, 25% were hospitalised, of whom 82% were admitted to the surgical department. CONCLUSION: Our findings can guide policy makers in referral hospitals in improving the planning of hospital resources and the prioritisation of public health needs linked to further urban development. A comprehensive plan to prevent RTIs, particularly among pedestrians in Addis Ababa, is urgently needed.
SETTING: The emergency department (ED) of Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To document the proportion, trend, characteristics and outcomes of road traffic injury (RTI) related ED admissions (⩾15 years) between 2014 and 2015. DESIGN: A retrospective, cross-sectional study using routinely collected ED data. RESULTS: Of 10 007 ED admissions, 779 (8%) were RTI cases; this proportion peaked in the month of January (11%). Medical records were available for 522 (67%) of these RTI cases. The median age was 28 years and 69% were males. The majority were pedestrians (69%) injured by an automobile (78%). On triage, 32% were classified as needing urgent/immediate intervention. Head injuries (20%) were the second most common injury after lower limb injuries (36%). ED outcomes were as follows: discharged (68%), hospitalised (17%), referred (17%) and died (1%). Among the 78 hospitalised cases, respectively 62% and 16% were admitted to the surgical and orthopaedic departments. Of 146 RTI cases with head injuries, 25% were hospitalised, of whom 82% were admitted to the surgical department. CONCLUSION: Our findings can guide policy makers in referral hospitals in improving the planning of hospital resources and the prioritisation of public health needs linked to further urban development. A comprehensive plan to prevent RTIs, particularly among pedestrians in Addis Ababa, is urgently needed.
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