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 pattern
of 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 department