Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities
Abstract Background Trauma is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among pediatric and adolescent populations worldwide, with over ninety percent of childhood injuries occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Lack of region-specific data on pediatric injuries is among the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Injury Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-022-00369-7 |
| _version_ | 1819260907351441408 |
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| author | Hendry R. Sawe Sveta Milusheva Kevin Croke Saahil Karpe Juma A. Mfinanga |
| author_facet | Hendry R. Sawe Sveta Milusheva Kevin Croke Saahil Karpe Juma A. Mfinanga |
| author_sort | Hendry R. Sawe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Trauma is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among pediatric and adolescent populations worldwide, with over ninety percent of childhood injuries occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Lack of region-specific data on pediatric injuries is among the major challenges limiting the ability of health systems to implement interventions to prevent injuries and improve outcomes. We aim to characterize the burden of pediatric health injuries, initial healthcare interventions and outcomes seen in thirteen diverse healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Methods This was a prospective cohort study of children aged up to 18 years presenting to emergency units (EUs) of thirteen multi-level health facilities in Tanzania from 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020. We describe injury patterns, mechanisms and early interventions performed at the emergency units of these health facilities. Results Among 18,553 trauma patients seen in all thirteen-health facilities, 4368 (23.5%) were children, of whom 2894 (66.7%) were male. The overall median age was 8 years (Interquartile range 4–12 years). Fall 1592 (36.5%) and road traffic crash (RTC) 840 (19.2%) were the top mechanisms of injury. Most patients 3748 (85.8%) arrived at EU directly from the injury site, using motorized (two or three) wheeled vehicles 2401 (55%). At EU, 651 (14.9%) were triaged as an emergency category. Multiple superficial injuries (14.4%), fracture of forearm (11.7%) and open wounds (11.1%) were the top EU diagnoses, while 223 (5.2%) had intracranial injuries. Children aged 0–4 years had the highest proportion (16.3%) of burn injuries. Being referred and being triaged as an emergency category were associated with high likelihood of serious injuries with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.18 (95%CI 3.07–5.68) and 2.11 (95%CI 1.75–2.56), respectively. 1095 (25.1%) of patients were admitted to inpatient care, 14 (0.3%) taken to operation theatre, and 25 (0.6%) died in the EU. Conclusions In these multilevel health facilities in Tanzania, pediatric injuries accounted for nearly one-quarter of all injuries. Over half of injuries occurred at home. Fall from height was the leading mechanism of injury, followed by RTC. Most patients sustained fractures of extremities. Future studies of pediatric injuries should focus on evaluating various preventive strategies that can be instituted at home to reduce the incidence and associated impact of such injuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:33:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6929fbd6d54842038507e46a84279547 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-1714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:33:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Injury Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6929fbd6d54842038507e46a842795472022-12-21T17:33:51ZengBMCInjury Epidemiology2197-17142022-01-019111110.1186/s40621-022-00369-7Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilitiesHendry R. Sawe0Sveta Milusheva1Kevin Croke2Saahil Karpe3Juma A. Mfinanga4Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Department, MUHAS, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDevelopment Impact Evaluation Group, World BankDevelopment Impact Evaluation Group, World BankLyftDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Muhimbili National HospitalAbstract Background Trauma is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among pediatric and adolescent populations worldwide, with over ninety percent of childhood injuries occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Lack of region-specific data on pediatric injuries is among the major challenges limiting the ability of health systems to implement interventions to prevent injuries and improve outcomes. We aim to characterize the burden of pediatric health injuries, initial healthcare interventions and outcomes seen in thirteen diverse healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Methods This was a prospective cohort study of children aged up to 18 years presenting to emergency units (EUs) of thirteen multi-level health facilities in Tanzania from 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020. We describe injury patterns, mechanisms and early interventions performed at the emergency units of these health facilities. Results Among 18,553 trauma patients seen in all thirteen-health facilities, 4368 (23.5%) were children, of whom 2894 (66.7%) were male. The overall median age was 8 years (Interquartile range 4–12 years). Fall 1592 (36.5%) and road traffic crash (RTC) 840 (19.2%) were the top mechanisms of injury. Most patients 3748 (85.8%) arrived at EU directly from the injury site, using motorized (two or three) wheeled vehicles 2401 (55%). At EU, 651 (14.9%) were triaged as an emergency category. Multiple superficial injuries (14.4%), fracture of forearm (11.7%) and open wounds (11.1%) were the top EU diagnoses, while 223 (5.2%) had intracranial injuries. Children aged 0–4 years had the highest proportion (16.3%) of burn injuries. Being referred and being triaged as an emergency category were associated with high likelihood of serious injuries with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.18 (95%CI 3.07–5.68) and 2.11 (95%CI 1.75–2.56), respectively. 1095 (25.1%) of patients were admitted to inpatient care, 14 (0.3%) taken to operation theatre, and 25 (0.6%) died in the EU. Conclusions In these multilevel health facilities in Tanzania, pediatric injuries accounted for nearly one-quarter of all injuries. Over half of injuries occurred at home. Fall from height was the leading mechanism of injury, followed by RTC. Most patients sustained fractures of extremities. Future studies of pediatric injuries should focus on evaluating various preventive strategies that can be instituted at home to reduce the incidence and associated impact of such injuries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-022-00369-7Pediatric injuryChildhood injuriesTanzaniaAfricaPediatric trauma |
| spellingShingle | Hendry R. Sawe Sveta Milusheva Kevin Croke Saahil Karpe Juma A. Mfinanga Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities Injury Epidemiology Pediatric injury Childhood injuries Tanzania Africa Pediatric trauma |
| title | Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| title_full | Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| title_fullStr | Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| title_short | Pediatric trauma burden in Tanzania: analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| title_sort | pediatric trauma burden in tanzania analysis of prospective registry data from thirteen health facilities |
| topic | Pediatric injury Childhood injuries Tanzania Africa Pediatric trauma |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-022-00369-7 |
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