Mechanisms of paediatric trauma at a rural hospital in Uganda

Peter Hulme

doi:10.22605/rrh1376

Abstract

Mechanisms of paediatric trauma at a rural hospital in Uganda

Highlights

Child injuries are a growing global public health problem[1], with injury and violence responsible for approximately 950 000 deaths annually in children
Many of these injuries are preventable and the incidence could be reduced by paediatric trauma prevention strategies directed at parents, children and other road users in developing countries[3]
A retrospective case-note review was conducted on the notes of all paediatric patients admitted to Kuluva Hospital in 2007 with trauma-related injuries

Summary

Introduction

Child injuries are a growing global public health problem[1], with injury and violence responsible for approximately 950 000 deaths annually in children. The burden of paediatric trauma is greatest in low- and middle-income countries where more than 95% of all injury deaths occur[1]. Many of these injuries are preventable and the incidence could be reduced by paediatric trauma prevention strategies directed at parents, children and other road users in developing countries[3]. The burden of other childhood disease such as HIV, malaria and malnutrition obscures trauma care. This lack of emphasis on injury and trauma prevention cannot be allowed to continue while thousands of lives are lost in this way every year. The hospital is on the major route to Kampala and so has a good quality tarmac road, with the main types of transport being motorcycle taxi, bicycle and car

Results

Discussion

Conclusion