Injury characteristics and outcome of road traffic accident among victims at Adult Emergency Department of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective hospital based study

Seid, Mohammed; Azazh, Aklilu; Enquselassie, Fikre; Yisma, Engida · 2015 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1186/s12873-015-0035-4

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Summary

This prospective hospital-based study investigates the injury characteristics and clinical outcomes of road traffic accident (RTA) victims treated at the Adult Emergency Department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Motivated by the high burden of RTAs globally and specifically in Africa, where the risk of death is highest, the research aims to characterize the demographic and injury profiles of victims and identify predictors of mortality. The study addresses a gap in local data, as few prior studies had examined RTA outcomes at this major referral center. The study was conducted between January and March 2013, enrolling 230 consecutive RTA victims aged 14 years or older who provided consent. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and medical record reviews, capturing socio-demographic details, mechanism of injury, and clinical parameters. Injury severity was assessed using the Kampala Trauma Score II (KTS II), and head injury severity was classified via the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0, with hierarchical multiple regression analysis employed to identify predictors of fatality, controlling for variables such as age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), GCS, and trauma severity. The results indicated that the majority of victims were male (71.7%) with a mean age of 32.15 years. Daily laborers (41.3%) and students (12.2%) constituted the largest occupational groups. Head injuries (50.4%) and musculoskeletal injuries (47.0%) were the most common, with fractures (78.0%) and open wounds (56.5%) being the predominant injury types. Pedestrians accounted for 62.6% of victims, and long-distance minibuses were the most frequently involved vehicles. The overall mortality rate was 7.4%, with a mean hospital stay of 7.12 days. Hierarchical regression analysis identified three statistically significant predictors of fatality: older age (ß = 0.16, p < 0.05), lower systolic blood pressure on admission (ß = −0.35, p < 0.001), and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (ß = −0.44, p < 0.001). Vehicle type, crash type, and road user type did not significantly predict fatalities after controlling for these clinical variables. The study concludes that RTAs represent a major public health challenge in Addis Ababa, characterized by high morbidity and mortality, particularly among young, productive males. The findings highlight the critical role of physiological stability (SBP and GCS) and age in determining survival outcomes. The authors emphasize the urgent need for improved road safety preventive measures and prompt, effective emergency treatment to reduce the burden of disability and death associated with road traffic injuries in Ethiopia.

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Topics

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• demographic disparities
• fatality injury trends
• incidence prevalence

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes