Epidemiology of Accident Deaths in Jos, Nigeria (1996-2000)

Background: Accidents are common events in our society and have contributed significantly to causes of morbidity and mortality in most hospitals. In our environment accidents are fast becoming the commonest cause of death. Only few cases of these accidents are reported to the corona for investigation. Method: Records of deaths from January 1996- December 2000 reported to the corona for autopsies from two major Hospitals in Jos city were analyzed. Those related to accidents were retrieved and studied. Information from the Police regarding causes of accidents was also extracted. Data on the deceased such as age, sex, and nature of injury were also collated. Police reports on the contributing factors to accidents were also analysed. Results: A total of 270 cases of deaths were reported to the corona for autopsies out of which 122 (45%) were accident deaths. One hundred and three (86%) cases were males while 19 cases were females. Two-thirds of deaths (60%) were in the productive age group of 21\u201440 years. Multiple fractures long bones without head injury accounted for 37.7% of deaths, followed by head/upper spinal injuries 24.6%, crushed body injuries 22%, while, intra-abdominal organ injuries which accounted for 15.6%. Analysis of types of accidents showed that vehicle, motorcycle, airplane crash and pedestrian accidents accounted for 59.8%, 20.5%, 10.7% and 9.0% respectively. Information from the Police on motor vehicle accidents, records showed that 50% of the accidental events were due to dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol. Conclusion: Accident death in our environment appears to affect mostly men in the productive and reproductive age groups. However measures that regulate vehicle speed on the road and alcohol intake by drivers may reduce more than half of such deaths.Introduction: Des accidents sont des \ue9v\ue9nements ordinaires dans notre soci\ue9t\ue9 et ils ont contribu\ue9 d'une mani\ue8re significative \ue0 des causes de la morbidit\ue9 et mortalit\ue9 dans la plupart des h\uf4pitaux. Dans notre milieu des accidents deviennent de plus en plus la cause la plus ordinaire de la mort. Quelques cas seulement de ces accidents sont rapport\ue9s au Corona pour des enqu\ueates. M\ue9thode : Dossiers des morts du janvier 1996 \u2013 d\ue9cembre 2000 rapport\ue9s \ue0 Corona pour des autopsies venant de deux H\uf4pitaux principaux \ue0 Jos ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9s. Ceux ayant rapport aux accidents ont \ue9t\ue9 retrouv\ue9s et \ue9tudi\ue9s. Des informations d'apr\ue8s la Police pour ce qui est des causes des accidents \ue9tait \ue9galement not\ue9es. Les donn\ue9es sur les d\ue9c\ue8s telles que \ue2ge, sexe, et la nature de la blessure ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9galement not\ue9s. Des rapports de la part de la Police sur des facteurs qui provoquent les acidents ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9galement \ue9tudi\ue9s. R\ue9sultats: Un nombre total de 270 cas ont \ue9t\ue9 rapport\ue9s \ue0 Corona pour des autopsies parmi lesquels 122 soit 45% \ue9taient des morts \ue0 travers des accidents. Cent trois soit 86% cas \ue9taient du sexe masculin tandis que 19 \ue9taient du sexe f\ue9minin. Deux tiers des morts soit 60% \ue9tait dans la trance d'\ue2ge productif 21 \u2013 40 ans. Fractures multiples os long sans blessure dans la t\ueate constituent 37,7% des morts, suivi par t\ueate/blessures spinales sup\ue9rieure 24,6%, blessures impliquant le corps \ue9cras\ue9 22%, tandis que des blessures des organes intra-abdominal qui constituent 15,6%. L'analyse des types des accidents a montr\ue9 que v\ue9hicule, motocyclette, accident d'avion et accident p\ue9destre constituent 59,8%, 20,5%, 10,7% et 9,0% respectivement. Des informations de la part de la Police sur des accidents \ue0 travers des v\ue9hicles, les dossiers ont montr\ue9 que 50% des \ue9v\ue9nements accidentels \ue9taient attribuables \ue0 la conduite dangereuses sur l'empire de la boisson. Conclusion: La mort \ue0 travers des accidents dans notre milieu semble de toucher des hommes en particulier dans la tranche d'\ue2ge productif et reproductif. Toutefois ; des demarches qui contr\uf4lent la vitesse des v\ue9hiclules dans la route et la consommation de la boisson par des chauffeurs peuvent baisser plus d'un moitie de telles morts