TY - JOUR PY - 1999// TI - Incidence of weapon injuries not related to interfactional combat in Afghanistan in 1996: prospective cohort study JO - British medical journal: BMJ A1 - GutiƩrrez-Fisac, J. L. A1 - Ramez, S. A1 - Meddings, David R. A1 - Michael, M. SP - 415 EP - 417 VL - 319 IS - 7207 N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine the descriptive epidemiology of weapon injuries not directly attributable to combat during armed conflict. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nangarhar region of Afghanistan, which experienced effective peace, intense fighting, and then peace over six months in 1996. SUBJECTS: 608 people admitted to Jalalabad hospital because of weapon injuries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated incidence of injuries from combat or otherwise (non-combat injury) before, during, and after the fall of Kabul. RESULTS: Incidence of non-combat injury was initially 65 per 100 000. During the intense military campaign for Kabul the incidence declined dramatically, and then differentially increased dependent on injury subcategory-that is, whether injuries were accidental or intentional and whether they were inflicted by firearms or fragmenting munitions. Non-combat injuries accounted for 51% of weapon injuries observed over the study period. Civilians were more likely to have non-combat injuries than combat injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Weapon injuries that are not attributable to combat are common. Social changes accompanying conflict and widespread availability of weapons may be predictive of use of weapons that persists independently of conflict.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0959-8138 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -