An audit of non-fatal assault injuries treated in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Nguru, north east Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Violent assault injuries are a frequent occurrence in the native communities of the North Eastern Nigeria. The injuries are mostly unreported, and therefore no policy towards prevention. We hope to highlight the common causes and pattern of such injuries, as well as suggest control measures in order to reduce the incidence.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 208 assault injury cases seen at the Accident and Emergency department of the Federal Medical Center, Nguru, between January 2002 and December 2006.


RESULTS
All but 12 were males, giving a male to female ratio of 16:1. Most of the patients are illiterate herdsmen and farmers. The age ranged from 12 to 70 years, with a mean of 30.9 +/- 11.2 years. The peak age incidence was 30-40 years. Fighting was the most common cause, accounting for 124 (59.6%), followed by armed robbery assaults, which accounted for 75 (36.1%). Domestic abuse was the cause in 9 cases (4.3%). Arrow shot was the commonest form of assault injury in 55 (26.4%) cases, followed by matchet in 49 (23.6%), gunshot in 37 (17.8%), club/stick in 32 (15.4%) and stab wounds in 26 (12.5 %). Quarrel over farmlands used for grazing by herdsmen was the leading cause of fighting resulting in assault injuries (87), followed by quarrel over women (32)!


CONCLUSIONS
Assault injuries are a common occurrence in the native communities of the North Eastern Nigeria. Addressing the root causes such as mapping out grazing lands in the region, community policing as well as mandatory reporting of all assault injuries to the police for appropriate legal action, will help reduce the incidence of assault injuries.
Eni
U E
UE
Department of Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri, Bomo State, North Eastern Nigeria. ucheni2002@yahoo.com
Na'aya
H U
HU
Musa
A M
AM
Lawan
M A
MA
Chinda
J Y
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult