Motor vehicle accident is a risk factor for traumatic head injury among children in Abuja: analysis of the first trauma registry in Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J 2019;33:215
Date
11/07/2019Pubmed ID
31692769Pubmed Central ID
PMC6814322DOI
10.11604/pamj.2019.33.215.19289Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85073453553 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 5 CitationsAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric traumatic injury is a major public health concern that is poorly documented in lower and middle-income countries. This study analyzed data on pediatric injuries from a unique hospital trauma registry in Abuja, Nigeria.
METHODS: Data were analyzed on 220 traumatically injured patients aged 21 years/less to describe injury characteristics and to determine the association between mechanism of injury and pediatric head injuries in Abuja, Nigeria, between 2014 and 2015. Bivariate analysis using Pearson's chi-square and adjusted logistic regression were conducted to characterize the population and identify risk factors for head injury. P-values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA v.15.1.
RESULTS: The majority of patients were male (60.9%) with a mean age (SD) of 12.5±6.9 years. Head injuries were most common (49.6%), followed by chest (14.1%), abdomen (12.3%) and back (7.7%). The mechanism of injury was statistically significantly associated with head injury (p=0.027) with 63% of children in a motor vehicle accident sustaining a head injury. After adjusting for covariates, the odds of head injury were 3.8 times higher for children injured in a motor vehicle accidents (MVA) compared to those with falls (95%CI 1.40-10.40).
CONCLUSION: This analysis reveals that motor vehicle accident is a risk factor for traumatic head injury among children in Nigeria. Therefore, efforts should be made to address motor vehicle accidents involving children. These data will help to inform age-related prevention and treatment strategies. The results of this study highlight the importance of collecting pediatric trauma data in developing countries.
Author List
Shour AR, Holmes B, Ameh EA, Olaomi OO, Anguzu R, Cassidy LDAuthors
Ronald Anguzu MD, PhD Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of WisconsinLaura Cassidy PhD Associate Dean, Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Accidental FallsAccidents, Traffic
Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Craniocerebral Trauma
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Nigeria
Registries
Risk Factors
Wounds and Injuries
Young Adult
