MAGNITUDE UNIVERSITY ETHIOPIA AND PATTERN OF INJURY IN JIMMA SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, SOUTH WEST

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Injury statistics in Ethiopia provides little knowledge about its magnitude and relatedinformation needed for prevention. This study, therefore, aims to determine the magnitude and pattern ofinjury in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH).METHODS: A retrospective review of records of all injured patients seen at surgical outpatientdepartment from April 09, 2010 to January 07, 2011; was conducted in January 2011. Data werecollected using a structured checklist that was developed by adapting the World Health Organizationinstrument. Five degree holder nurses collected the data while investigators closely supervised. Sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and injury related information were collected. Data wereanalyzed using SPSS for windows version 16.0.RESULTS: Of 13500 patients who visited surgical outpatient department of JUSH during the studyperiod, 1102(8.2%) were injury cases. The commonest mechanism of injury was blunt assault,341(30.9%), followed by road traffic accident, 334(30.3). Fracture was the leading outcome of injury,454(41.2%), followed by bruise or skin laceration, 404(36.7%). Significantly more males had cut,(AOR=2.0; 95% CI=1.2, 3.3) and stab, (AOR=3.0; 95% CI=1.6, 5.7), injuries compared to females.Conversely, significantly fewer males had burn, (AOR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2, 0.8) and road traffic accident,(AOR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5, 0.9), than females. Most, 715(95.8%), patients were presented to the hospitalwithin one week. The commonest functional limitations were; difficulty to use hands, 312(28.3%) anddifficulty to use legs, 217(19.7%). Eighty three, (7.5%) of the patients died and road traffic accident aloneaccounted for almost half, 179 (49.7%), of the severe injuries.CONCLUSION: The magnitude of injury in the hospital was considerably high. Age and sex werepredictors of injury. Appropriate prevention strategies should be designed and implemented againstassault, road traffic accident and cut by sharp tool.KEYWORDS: Injury, Magnitude, Pattern, Case records, Jimma University Specialized Hospital