Road traffic accidents and posttraumatic stress disorder in an orthopedic setting in south-eastern Nigeria: a controlled study

Obiora Iteke,Muideen O Bakare,Ahamefule O Agomoh,Richard Uwakwe,Jojo U Onwukwe

doi:10.1186/1757-7241-19-39

Abstract

BackgroundPsychiatric liaison services are rare in trauma units of various hospitals in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries. The occurrence of road traffic accidents (RTAs) resulting from low standard of road construction and inadequate maintenance have been on the increase in Nigeria. While the physical consequences of such RTAs are obvious, the psychological consequences are often not apparent. This study assessed the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among victims of RTAs and compared same with controls drawn from a population who have not experienced RTAs. It also assessed the associated socio-demographic variables.MethodStudy population consisted of one hundred and fifty RTA victims and two different control groups drawn from the population consisting of staffs of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria and that of National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, 150 people in each control group were matched for age and sex with the RTA victims and they were interviewed with PTSD module of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and their socio-demographic variables obtained with socio-demographic questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of PTSD among RTA victims and the two control groups were 26.7%, 8.0% and 8.7% respectively. The difference in prevalence was statistically significant with RTA victims more likely to experience PTSD compared to the two control groups (X2 = 27.23, df = 2, p = 0.001). Gender influenced the prevalence of PTSD among victims of RTAs and the controls, with females more likely to experience PTSD when compared to the males. Among victims of RTAs, being gainfully employed prior to the accidents increased the likelihood of developing PTSD and this was statistically significant (X2 = 20.09, df = 1, p = 0.000).ConclusionsThere is urgent need to pay more attention to developing consultation-liaison psychiatry services in trauma units of Nigerian hospitals, including orthopedic hospitals located in different geographical zones of the country.

Highlights

Psychiatric liaison services are rare in trauma units of various hospitals in Nigeria and other subSaharan African countries
The difference in prevalence was statistically significant with road traffic accidents (RTAs) victims more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the two control groups (X2 = 27.23, df = 2, p = 0.001)
Gender influenced the prevalence of PTSD among victims of RTAs and the controls, with females more likely to experience PTSD when compared to the males

Summary

Introduction

Psychiatric liaison services are rare in trauma units of various hospitals in Nigeria and other subSaharan African countries. The occurrence of road traffic accidents (RTAs) resulting from low standard of road construction and inadequate maintenance have been on the increase in Nigeria. Avoidable road traffic accidents among other accidents have continued to add to morbidity and mortality in most sub-Saharan African countries. It appears like most sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing another disease burden from the preventable accidents resulting from poor road infrastructure. It may not be out of place to talk of a triple burden of disease. The issue of road traffic accidents is reaching an alarming state in Nigeria where Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has continued to report increased prevalence in road traffic accidents on a yearly basis [4]

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