TY - JOUR
T1 - Road traffic injuries in Yaoundé, Cameroon
T2 - A hospital-based pilot surveillance study
AU - McGreevy, Jolion
AU - Stevens, Kent A.
AU - Ekeke Monono, Martin
AU - Etoundi Mballa, Georges Alain
AU - Kouo Ngamby, Marquise
AU - Hyder, Adnan A.
AU - Juillard, Catherine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. In Cameroon, like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, more data on RTI patterns and outcomes are needed to improve treatment and prevention. This study analyses RTIs seen in the emergency room of the busiest trauma centre in Yaoundé , Cameroon.Methods: A prospective injury surveillance study was conducted in the emergency room of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé from April 15 to October 15, 2009. RTI patterns and relationships among demographic variables, road collision characteristics, injury severity, and outcomes were identified.Results: A total of 1686 RTI victims were enrolled. The mean age was 31 years, and 73% were male. Eighty-eight percent of road collisions occurred on paved roads. The most common user categories were pedestrian (34%) and motorcyclist (29%). Pedestrians were more likely to be female (p < 0.001), while motorcyclists were more likely to be male (p < 0.001). Injuries most commonly involved the pelvis and extremities (43%). Motorcyclists were more likely than other road users to have serious injuries (RR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.68). RTI victims of lower economic status were more likely to die than those of higher economic status.Discussion: Vulnerable road users represent the majority of RTI victims in this surveillance study. The burden of RTI on hospitals in Cameroon is high and likely to increase. Data on RTI victims who present to trauma centres in low- and middle-income countries are essential to improving treatment and prevention.
AB - Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. In Cameroon, like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, more data on RTI patterns and outcomes are needed to improve treatment and prevention. This study analyses RTIs seen in the emergency room of the busiest trauma centre in Yaoundé , Cameroon.Methods: A prospective injury surveillance study was conducted in the emergency room of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé from April 15 to October 15, 2009. RTI patterns and relationships among demographic variables, road collision characteristics, injury severity, and outcomes were identified.Results: A total of 1686 RTI victims were enrolled. The mean age was 31 years, and 73% were male. Eighty-eight percent of road collisions occurred on paved roads. The most common user categories were pedestrian (34%) and motorcyclist (29%). Pedestrians were more likely to be female (p < 0.001), while motorcyclists were more likely to be male (p < 0.001). Injuries most commonly involved the pelvis and extremities (43%). Motorcyclists were more likely than other road users to have serious injuries (RR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.68). RTI victims of lower economic status were more likely to die than those of higher economic status.Discussion: Vulnerable road users represent the majority of RTI victims in this surveillance study. The burden of RTI on hospitals in Cameroon is high and likely to increase. Data on RTI victims who present to trauma centres in low- and middle-income countries are essential to improving treatment and prevention.
KW - Injury
KW - Low-middle lncome country
KW - Motorcyclist
KW - Pedestrian
KW - Surveillance road traffic
KW - Trauma systems
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U2 - 10.1016/j.injury.2014.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.injury.2014.05.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 24998038
AN - SCOPUS:84908030243
SN - 0020-1383
VL - 45
SP - 1687
EP - 1692
JO - Injury
JF - Injury
IS - 11
ER -