The mechanisms of facial trauma wounds: Does screening and post counselling matter?

Abstract

Background:
Facial trauma wounds encompass a spectrum of injuries resulting from various mechanisms of injuries, including accidents, interpersonal violence, and occupational injuries. These injuries not only pose immediate physical threats but also carry profound and often underestimated psychological and social implications. The primary focus in managing facial trauma traditionally centres on addressing the physical aspects of injury, the psychological sequelae are frequently disregarded. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of facial trauma wounds and the prevalence of screening and providing post-counselling support in Limpopo Province referral hospitals

Methods:
By employing a quantitative, descriptive cross sectional research design, a total of 150 people with facial trauma wounds completed and submitted structured questionnaires. To ensure the validity and reliability, the data collection instrument was pretested on respondents who were not included in the main study. The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis with the Excel applications, Stata/SE version 17, SPSS version 28, and scoring techniques.     

Results:
According to the findings, the majority of facial trauma wounds were caused by assault (67.3%), followed by motorvehicle accidents (22%), and gender-based violence and falls (10.7%). Surprisingly, 76.7% of the cases were not screened for emotional and psychological problems caused by facial trauma, and even among those admitted with such injuries, 82.7% did not receive post-counselling care. These findings highlight the importance of enhanced screening techniques and thorough post-counselling interventions in addressing the complex impact of facial trauma wounds in our communities.                                                                                                                                         

Conclusion:
These results reveal a worrisome deficiency in the provision of healthcare and emphasize the pressing need for enhanced screening guidelines and post-counselling support for patients with facial trauma injuries. The results showed a research gap regarding the efficacy of screening protocols and post-trauma counselling interventions specifically designed for facial trauma wounds, even though numerous studies have looked at similar interventions in the context of general trauma, few have specifically focused on facial injuries.