title: Factors associated with road traffic injuries in Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injuries represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and road traffic crashes accounts for a significant proportion of these injuries. Tanzania is among the countries with high rates of road traffic crashes. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern, associated factors and management of road traffic injury patients in Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of patients involved in motor traffic crashes and attended in six public hospitals of Tanzania mainland between April 2014 and September 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4675 road traffic injury patients were seen in studied hospitals, 76.6% were males. Majority (70.2%) were between 18 - 45 years age group. Motorcycles were the leading cause of road traffic crashes (53.4%), and drivers (38.3%) accounted for majority of victims. Fractures accounted for 34.1%, and injuries were severe in 2.2% as determined by the Kampala trauma score II (KTS II). Majorities 57.4% were admitted and 2.2% died at the casualty. Factors associated with mortality were; using police vehicles to hospital (P = 0.000), receiving medical attention within 2 to 10 hours after injury (P = 0.000), 18 - 45 years age group (P = 0.019), not using helmet (P = 0.007), severe injuries (P = 0.000) and sustaining multiple injury (P = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Road traffic Injuries in Tanzania are an important public health problem, predominantly in adult males, mostly due to motorcycle crashes. It is therefore important to reinforce preventive measures and pre-hospital emergency service is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Injury Control Centre Tanzania (ICCT); Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Respicious
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boniface
authors.affiliation: Injury Control Centre Tanzania (ICCT); University of Dar es Salaam, School of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Museru
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Othman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kiloloma
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Injury Control Centre Tanzania (ICCT).
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Munthali
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Road traffic crashes; Tanzania; injuries