en |
Intentional injuries: The Experience from Dodoma Regional Hospital, Central Tanzania.
Mwashambwa, M.Y.; Kapalata, S.N. & Akoko, L.O.
Abstract
Background:
Worldwide intentional injuries cause about 9 deaths for every 100,000
persons; in Africa the contribution is estimated to
be twice as much (25 out of 100000
persons).The true incidence of intentional injuries
in Tanzania is unknown. There are very
few hospital based studies which have characterized
patients with intentional injuries. This
study shares the experience obtained in management
of patients with intentional injuries
at Dodoma Regional Hospital for a period of about 9
months.
Methods:
A hospital based prospective descriptive study was
carried out, in which all
patients admitted with history of intentional injury were conveniently recruited into the
study. Demographic data, injury causes and pattern
were recorded; treatment was given
according to hospital standard protocol. Consent was obtained from all patients.
Results:
Two hundred and fifty two patients were studied, the age ranged from 10 to 60
years with a mean age of 30.54 (standard deviation
= 9.6). Males outnumbered females by
1.6. The commonest assailants were persons not related to victims (80%). The majority of
injuries occurred outside home environment (70%), with marital status having a
significant contribution. Most injuries took place
at night. Sexual violence was a leading
overall cause (27%), in men robbery or theft was the commonest cause (82%).
Knives/machetes in 42% were among the commonest weapons used, followed by wooden
sticks 26%. Head and neck were the most common body
parts injured (79%), followed by
chest and abdomen (19%), with significant difference between men and women (p value =
0.0001). Non-penetrating stabs or cuts wounds were
the commonest injuries (70%),
followed by penetrating chest and abdominal injuries (12%). Surgical debridement and
primary suture was performed in 77% of cases, followed by thoracotomy and or
laporatomy. Men needed more radical forms of surgical intervention than women (p value
< 0.0001). The wound complication rate was 37%. The
mean hospital stay was 4.7 days,
with standard deviation of 7.7 and a range of 1 to
64 days.
Conclusion:
Intentional injuries in Dodoma are probably very high, and there is possibility
that domestic violence may be higher in this area,
if findings from this study are to be
extrapolated into the community. There is no doubt
that this may significantly contribute to
family poverty through morbidity, hospital expenses
and lost hours of productivity. Further
community based studies and community advocacy through health education are
recommended.
Keywords
Intentional injuries; Pattern; Causes, Treatment; Complication and Hospital stay
|