Intentional injuries among Ugandan youth: a trauma registry analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine intentional injury burden, incident characteristics, and outcomes among Ugandan youth.


METHODS
A cross sectional analysis of trauma registry data from accident and emergency units of five regional referral hospitals was conducted. Data had been prospectively collected from all patients accessing injury care at the five sites between July 2004 and June 2005: youth records were analysed.


RESULTS
Intentional injuries among youth victims, especially school-age males, are common in all five regions, constituting 7.3% of their injury burden with a male dominance. Intentional youth victimisation mainly occurred at home, on roads, and in public places; incidents were largely due to blunt force, stabs/cuts, and gunshots in general, although variations in causes were evident depending on age. Intentional injuries among the youth victims often manifested as head, neck, and face injuries: 2% were severe and there were 4%case fatalities at 2 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Intentional injuries among youth victims, especially school-age males, are important contributors of injury burden in all five sites. Homes, roads, and public places are unsafe for Ugandan youth. Although guns were used in all five sites, less lethal mechanisms (blunt force, stabs/cuts, and burns) are the most common with variations between locations. Incidents involving teenage housewives could reflect underlying problem of domestic violence. Community based studies could be highly informative. Youth should be prioritised for prevention of injuries both in and out of school.
Mutto
Milton
M
Pincer Group International Ltd, Kampala, Uganda. mmutto@pincergroup.org
Lett
Ronald
R
Lawoko
Stephen
S
Nansamba
Catherine
C
Svanstrom
Leif
L
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult