title: Demographic profile and epidemiology of injury in Mthatha, South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude, socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics of injury at a Provincial referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review was conducted on all trauma patients admitted at the Mthatha Hospital Complex and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital from the 1(st) January 1997 to the 31(st) December 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incident rate of injuries was 3.2% (n=2460/75,833 total admissions). Injured patients were mostly black (80%) and males (ratio: 5 men: 1 woman). Only 8.1% of injured patients were transported to hospital by ambulances. The leading causes of injuries were inter-personal violence accounting for 60% of cases, and motor vehicle accidents accounting for 19%; of them 38% were due to poor visibility, over speeding, and fatigue. The overall mortality was 33% (n=821) independently predicted by poverty (OR=8.2 95%CI 6-11.1; P<0.0001) and age>40 years(OR=7.8 95%CI 7.7-12.1;P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of injury is a mass issue that warrants regional attention with quality of care and training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhaffala
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Longo-Mbenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kingu
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva. Former MRC, Cape Town.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peden
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafuko-Bwoye
authors.affiliation: Howard University, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mazwai
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Injuries; South Africa; mortality; poverty; violence