Patterns of road traffic injuries in five regions of Uganda
| dc.creator | Nansamba, Catherine | |
| dc.date | 2013-03-22T09:24:56Z | |
| dc.date | 2013-03-22T09:24:56Z | |
| dc.date | 2009-03-03 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-09-04T12:49:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-09-04T12:49:50Z | |
| dc.description | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of Master of Science of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Makerere University. | |
| dc.description | Introduction: Road traffic injuries (RTls) are the leading cause of injury-related deaths worldwide. The number of people killed in road traffic crashes each year is estimated at 1.2 million, while the number injured is also estimated at 50 million. The WHO Africa Region had the highest mortality rate in 2002, at 28.3 per 100,000 population. In Uganda RTls claim over 2,000 lives each year. In Kampala, RTls accounted for 35.1% of all trauma, the largest single external cause. Several studies reveal that pedestrian constitute the greatest proportions of road. Users injured on the road, in low- and middle- income countries as compared to Vehicle occupants in high income countries. The pattern of vehicle type involved in traffic injuries differs from region to region. This study was at comparing. The patterns and outcomes of road traffic injuries in five regions of Uganda. Method: This study was a hospital-based secondary analysis of injury surveillance data collected between the 1st August 2004 and the 31st July 2005. Trained casualty health workers completed a one-page 23-item registry form in the casualty department for each patient. Demographics, causes of injury, severity and outcome were recorded. The patient status and outcome at two weeks were also recorded. Data were collected from Mulago National Referral Hospital, Fort-Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor. Results: Males formed the majority of the traffic injuries in all regions. The mean age in the five regions was 27-29 years (SD 12-15). Passengers comprised 49.7% of traffic injury patients in all five regions. Vehicles (four wheels or more) were the most frequent (59.3%) vehicle type involved in traffic injuries in four of the five regions. Majority (94.1%) of all traffic injury patients survived within two weeks after entry in the registry. Age 15-44 years, southwestern and central regions, and severity were the important determinants of a road traffic injury death within two weeks. Conclusion: Males formed a majority of the road traffic injuries in all regions. The most frequently injured are in the age group 15-44 years of age. One in every eight road traffic injuries involved a child. Passengers constitute the majority of road traffic injuries among road users and significant proportions of them are from the central region. Even though vehicles (four-wheelers or more) were the most frequent vehicle-type involved in traffic injuries in four of the five regions, motorcycles still remain an important vehicle type in the southwestern region. The majority of persons injured in road traffic crashes survived within two weeks but the proportion of those that die is still high. Recommendations: This therefore calls for preventive interventions targeted at passengers as a group of vulnerable road users. Proper licensing and training in road use and safety for the motorcyclists and cyclists is highly recommended. | |
| dc.identifier | ||
| dc.identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/10570/1231 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10570/1231 | |
| dc.language | en | |
| dc.publisher | Makerere University | |
| dc.subject | Traffic accidents | |
| dc.title | Patterns of road traffic injuries in five regions of Uganda | |
| dc.type | Thesis, masters |