Abstract
BackgroundInjuries are a major public health problem worldwide. Despite increasing morbidity and mortality from injuries in Nepal, it is not recognised in the government’s policy and programmes and few population-based studies have been published. This study describes the usefulness of hospital emergency department records to explore access to injury care in Nepal.MethodsA retrospective ED-based study was conducted at a governmental hospital in Nepal to review the routinely collected data for 1 year (1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010). The study was designed to provide cross-sectional data to describe the distribution of injuries by age, gender, ethnic group and injury mechanism.ResultsResults showed that twice as many males as females attended the emergency department (14.6 vs. 7.0 per 1000), attendance varied by age with most (39.8 %) attendances in young adults of working age and over half of attendances were from just two ethnic groups (Brahmin (26 %) and Tamang (25.5 %). Road traffic injuries were the most common cause of injury (37.6 %).ConclusionsThis study therefore showed the feasibility of using routinely collected hospital emergency department data to monitor injury inequalities in Nepal.
Highlights
Injuries are a major public health problem worldwide
The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that unintentional injuries accounted for 7 % (11,310) of all deaths occurring in the year 2010 in Nepal [3], a figure similar to the 8 % identified in reports by the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population [4]
Strengths and limitations of the study Whilst injury is increasingly recognised as an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Nepal, we believe this to be the first study to describe the utility of hospital emergency department records to explore inequality in injury in Nepal
Summary
Injuries are a major public health problem worldwide. Despite increasing morbidity and mortality from injuries in Nepal, it is not recognised in the government’s policy and programmes and few population-based studies have been published. Injuries have become a major cause of premature deaths and disability throughout the world, with the burden of injury mortality and morbidity highest in low- and middle-income countries [1]. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that unintentional injuries accounted for 7 % (11,310) of all deaths occurring in the year 2010 in Nepal [3], a figure similar to the 8 % identified in reports by the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population [4]. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated 10.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to all causes, of which over 7 % (744,000) DALYs attributed to unintentional injuries in 2010 [3]. As morbidity and mortality secondary to infectious diseases diminishes, the importance of injury as a major cause of illness, death and disability of all age groups of people is increasing. The rapidly changing economic, social and environmental landscape of Nepal, secondary to factors such as increasing motorisation, urbanisation, industrialisation, migration and changing life styles of people, may increase the prevalence of injury in the future [6]
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