title: Road traffic injuries in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A hospital-based pilot surveillance study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. In Cameroon, like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, more data on RTI patterns and outcomes are needed to improve treatment and prevention. This study analyses RTIs seen in the emergency room of the busiest trauma centre in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective injury surveillance study was conducted in the emergency room of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé from April 15 to October 15, 2009. RTI patterns and relationships among demographic variables, road collision characteristics, injury severity, and outcomes were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1686 RTI victims were enrolled. The mean age was 31 years, and 73% were male. Eighty-eight percent of road collisions occurred on paved roads. The most common user categories were 'pedestrian' (34%) and 'motorcyclist' (29%). Pedestrians were more likely to be female (p<0.001), while motorcyclists were more likely to be male (p<0.001). Injuries most commonly involved the pelvis and extremities (43%). Motorcyclists were more likely than other road users to have serious injuries (RR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.68). RTI victims of lower economic status were more likely to die than those of higher economic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vulnerable road users represent the majority of RTI victims in this surveillance study. The burden of RTI on hospitals in Cameroon is high and likely to increase. Data on RTI victims who present to trauma centres in low- and middle-income countries are essential to improving treatment and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Injury Research Unit, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: jolionmcgreevy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jolion
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGreevy
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Injury Research Unit, Baltimore, MD, United States; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Surgery, Baltimore, United States.
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Africa Regional Office, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekeke Monono
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health, Department of Disease Control, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Georges Alain
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Etoundi Mballa
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health, Department of Family Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Marquise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kouo Ngamby
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Injury Research Unit, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Adnan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Franscisco, Department of Surgery, San Franscisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Juillard
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011634:Public Health; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Low-middle lncome country; Motorcyclist; Pedestrian; Surveillance road traffic Injury; Trauma systems