A prevalence study of trauma and its associated factors in patients at Emergency Department, Intermediate Hospital, Oshakati, Namibia

Thesis (MFamMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Trauma’s a global health issue with enormous societal and economic consequences. In Namibia, a lack of on-going, systematic trauma surveillance has limited the ability to characterize the profile and associated factors of trauma and to develop prevention programmes. Aim To describe the prevalence of trauma and its associated factors in patients presenting at the Emergency Department of the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, Oshakati. Methods A descriptive study administering a validated questionnaire to 300 consecutively sampled participants over 4 months to obtain their characteristics, mechanism, type and outcome of injury. Descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using SPSS. Results Of the 300 participants, 65.0% were males, 68.3% < 30 years, 38.0% unemployed and 38.3% dependent. Commonest trauma type was accidental (68.3%) and commonest mechanism was blunt force trauma (77.3%), Alcohol was implicated in 29% of cases and linked to IPV (66.7%), community violence (56.5%) and MVA (35.9%). There was increased rate of trauma after work hours (37.7%) and during weekends (23.4%). The limbs (78.4%) were the most affected part, followed by head injury (27.3%). 46% of cases were admitted. Conclusion The results obtained in the study provide the basis for evidence-based interventions to reduce the burden of trauma. Regular eye screening, medication review and proper protective apparels should be in place to reduce accidental injuries and falls. There’s need for policy formulation and awareness campaigning on alcohol consumption to minimize MVAs and violence. This study demonstrates the value of locally appropriate, on-going, systematic public health surveillance in LMIC.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.Master