Prevalence of Road Traffic Accident and Outcome among Patients Admitted at Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma (AaBET) Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Road Traffic Accident is an incident on a way or street open to public traffic that becomes one of the most significant public health problems in the world particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, Road Traffic Accident is the major public health problem even though studies indicate the prevalence and management outcomes among these victims are limited.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and management outcomes among road traffic accident victims who attended emergency department of AaBET (Addis Ababa burn Emergency and Trauma) Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods: Hospital based retrospective cross sectional study design was implemented among Patients attending to AaBET Hospital based on patients' record review for one year (from January 1 to December 30, 2021). Records of patients were reviewed until the calculated minimum sample size (399) attained. Simple random sampling technique was applied to recruit the records.

Result: Among a total of 385 trauma victims visited the hospital, the most commonly affected age group were between 26-30 years old, accounting for 68 (17.7%) followed by age ˂13 years 67 (17.4%). This study also identified 269 (69.9%) of victims were male and 116 (30.1%) were female. Regarding pattern of injury, musculoskeletal fracture was the most frequent type of injury (39.2%). one-third (31%) of them sustained severe injury that urged them to seek intensive surgical management. Regarding mechanism of injury, 45% of the victims reported that they hit by another vehicle. 43.5 % of the victims injured were pedestrians. Regarding management given at ED, almost half (47.5%) of the victims received wound care and about 23.4% of them were given anti- pain and resuscitation, respectively. Among 252 victims who admitted in AaBET hospital about 87% of patients admitted to surgical and orthopedic wards received surgical type of treatment.

Conclusion: From foregoing it is evident that RTA requires proper traffic management; and the mortality and disability from RTA can be minimized by appropriately identifying the priority patient and giving appropriate intervention promptly.

Keywords: AaBET, Accident, Emergency, Hospital, Road Traffic

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/102-02

Publication date:October 31^st 2022