title: Vital Statistics: Estimating Injury Mortality in Kigali, Rwanda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally, injury deaths largely occur in low- and middle-income countries. No estimates of injury associated mortality exist in Rwanda. This study aimed to describe the patterns of injury-related deaths in Kigali, Rwanda using existing data sources.
  
  
  METHODS
  We created a database of all deaths reported by the main institutions providing emergency care in Kigali—four major hospitals, two divisions of the Rwanda National Police, and the National Emergency Medical Service--during 12 months (Jan–Dec 2012) and analyzed it for demographics, diagnoses, mechanism and type of injury, causes of death, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2682 deaths, 57% in men, 67% in adults >18 year, and 16% in children <5 year. All-cause mortality rate was 236/100,000; 35% (927) were due to probable surgical causes. Injury-related deaths occurred in 22% (593/2682). The most common injury mechanism was road traffic crash (cause-specific mortality rate of 20/100,000). Nearly half of all injury deaths occurred in the prehospital setting (47%, n = 276) and 49% of injury deaths at the university hospital occurred within 24 h of arrival. Being injured increased the odds of dying in the prehospital setting by 2.7 times (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injuries account for 22% of deaths in Kigali with road traffic crashes being the most common cause.Injury deaths occurred largely in the prehospital setting and within the first 24 h of hospital arrival suggesting the need for investment in emergency infrastructure. Accurate documentation of the cause of death would help policy makers make data-driven resource allocation decisions.
authors.forename: Woon Cho
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Byiringiro
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ntakiyiruta
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyamanywa
authors.forename: Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Irakiza
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mvukiyehe
authors.forename: Zeta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mutabazi
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vizir
authors.forename: Jean de la Croix Allen
authors.initials: Jde L
authors.lastname: Ingabire
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nshuti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riviello
authors.forename: Selwyn O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Sudha P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jayaraman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014798:Vital Statistics; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult