Intentional injuries among Ugandan youth: a trauma registry analysis
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Injury Prevention
Abstract
To determine intentional injury burden, incident
characteristics, and outcomes among Ugandan youth.
Methods A cross sectional analysis of trauma registry
data from accident and emergency units of five regional
referral hospitals was conducted. Data had been
prospectively collected from all patients accessing injury
care at the five sites between July 2004 and June 2005:
youth records were analysed.
Results Intentional injuries among youth victims,
especially school-age males, are common in all five
regions, constituting 7.3% of their injury burden with
a male dominance. Intentional youth victimisation mainly
occurred at home, on roads, and in public places;
incidents were largely due to blunt force, stabs/cuts, and
gunshots in general, although variations in causes were
evident depending on age. Intentional injuries among the
youth victims often manifested as head, neck, and face
injuries: 2% were severe and there were 4%case
fatalities at 2 weeks.
Conclusions and recommendations Intentional
injuries among youth victims, especially school-age
males, are important contributors of injury burden in all
five sites. Homes, roads, and public places are unsafe for
Ugandan youth. Although guns were used in all five
sites, less lethal mechanisms (blunt force, stabs/cuts,
and burns) are the most common with variations
between locations. Incidents involving teenage
housewives could reflect underlying problem of domestic
violence. Community based studies could be highly
informative. Youth should be prioritised for prevention of
injuries both in and out of school.
Description
Keywords
Intentional injuries, Ugandan youth, Trauma registry analysis
Citation
Mutto, M., Lett, R., Lawoko, S., Nansamba, C., & Svanstrom, L. (2010). Intentional injuries among Ugandan youth: a trauma registry analysis. Injury Prevention , 16 (5), 333-336. doi:10.1136/ip.2008.020495