title: Three-month pattern of road traffic injuries at a Kenyan level 4 hospital.
abstract: Road traffic injuries continue to exert a huge burden on the health care system in Kenya. Few studies on the pattern of road traffic injuries have been conducted in Kenya. We therefore carried out a retrospective study to determine the pattern of road traffic injuries seen in a public hospital in Naivasha district, Kenya. A retrospective study on surgical patients admitted at Naivasha District Hospital over a three month period was carried out. Eighty two percent of all patients injured in the crashes were men, and eighty percent were aged between 20-49 years. Most of the patients sustained lower limb injuries (41.5%) followed by head injuries (35.4%). Thirty one percent were pedestrians, 27.7% cyclists, 24.6% passengers and 16.9% motor vehicle drivers at the time of injury. Road traffic crashes are a growing pandemic, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Efforts need to be taken to prevent injuries, long term complications and loss of lives that are robbing communities off loved ones, bread winners and productive manpower.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya ; Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Duncan Mwangangi
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Matheka
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Mercy Nzilani
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kitonyi
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya ; Centres for Health and Education Programmes, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Faraj Omar
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Alkizim
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Kenya; Naivasha; Road traffic crashes; vulnerable road users