Pattern of Injury and Associated Variables as Seen in the Emergency Department at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Traumatic injuries represent a significant and growing disease burden in the developing world, and now represent one of the leading causes of death in economically active adults in many low- and middle-income countries. This study was aimed at determining the patternof injuries and variables associated among patients visiting Emergency Department (ED) due to injury at Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional hospital based study done with a systematic random sampling method. The study was done in Tikur Anbessa specialized referral hospital. The study was conducted in between February 1 to April 30, 2013. Results: A total of 3287 new patients were seen in the ED, of whom 989 (32.5%) reported to be injury victims, of them 321 patients were included in the study. The M: F ratio is3.58:1.  More than 41% of patients were aged between 20 and 29.The most  frequent cause of injury was Road Traffic Accident (RTAs), 123(38.3%), followed by stuck/hit by a person or object, 101(31.5%), and fall accident 68(21.2%).Further analysis showed that the odds of injury of assault to be increased for males (P= 0.037, AOR, 2.528, 95%CI (1.058-6.037),  patients with monthly income < 650 Ethiopian birr{(P= 0.002, AOR 2.91, 95% CI (1.493-5.705)},and age< 40 years old is significantly associated with injury of assault {(P= 0.004, AOR 3.27, 95%CI(1.451-7.375)}. Injury of assault is 61% less likely to be occurred in rural areas than the urban dwellers {(P= 0.002, AOR 0.39%CI (.219-.707)}.Conclusion: Appropriate interventions to reduce the occurrences of injuries should be instituted by the local authorities and other responsible body. There is also a need to educate the community members particularly risk groups on how to prevent injuries. Key Words: Injury, Variables associated with injury, Emergency departmen

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