Pediatric trauma in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges in overcoming the scourge

All over the world, pediatric trauma has emerged as an important public health problem. It accounts for the highest mortality in children and young adults in developed countries. Reports from Africa on trauma in the pediatric age group are few and most have been single center experience. In many low...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adesoji O Ademuyiwa, Usang E Usang, Kehinde S Oluwadiya, Dare I Ogunlana, Hope Glover-Addy, Chris O Bode, A S Arjan B Van
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2012;volume=5;issue=1;spage=55;epage=61;aulast=Ademuyiwa
Description
Summary:All over the world, pediatric trauma has emerged as an important public health problem. It accounts for the highest mortality in children and young adults in developed countries. Reports from Africa on trauma in the pediatric age group are few and most have been single center experience. In many low-and middle-income countries, the death rates from trauma in the pediatric age group exceed those found in developed countries. Much of this mortality is preventable by developing suitable preventive measures, implementing an effective trauma system and adapting interventions that have been implemented in developed countries that have led to significant reduction in both morbidity and mortality. This review of literature on the subject by pediatric and orthopedic surgeons from different centers in Africa aims to highlight the challenges faced in the care of these patients and proffer solutions to the scourge.
ISSN:0974-2700