The burden of trauma at a district hospital in Malawi.
Trauma disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, many of which do not have the surveillance systems required to design effective prevention and treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to establish such a system at a district hospital in Malawi. Data on all trauma patients presenting to Mulanje District Hospital from 14 April 2013 to 30 December 2014 were collected using a form based on the core minimum data points for injuries recommended by the World Health Organization and an injury severity assessment. A total of 9073 trauma cases were recorded, accounting for 3.4% of patients that presented at the hospital during this period. Of them, 56.6% were boys/men, with the average age being 22.4 (range, 0.6-98 years). Falls (53.2%), animal bites (16.6%), road traffic injuries (11.1%) and assaults (10.2%) were the most prevalent causes, the majority of the former two taking place at home. Of the patients, 94.8% were treated and sent home, 5.0% were admitted and the remaining were either referred elsewhere or died.
1 Foundation Doctor, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Medway, Kent, UK.
Zahra
Z
Jaffry
2 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Beit Cure International Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Linda C
LC
Chokotho
3 Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedics, Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, UK.
William J
WJ
Harrison
4 Professor of Orthopaedics and Head of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
Nyengo C
NC
Mkandawire
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014944:World Health Organization; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Africa; disease; epidemiology; location; public health