TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1995//
TI  - Admissions for injury at a rural hospital in Ghana: implications for prevention in the developing world
JO  - American journal of public health
A1  - Rivara, Frederick P.
A1  - Conklin, E.
A1  - Denno, D.
A1  - Adzotor, Ellis S.
A1  - Mock, Charles N.
SP  - 927
EP  - 931
VL  - 85
IS  - 7
N2  - OBJECTIVES. Strategies for injury prevention have been extensively studied in developed nations but not in the developing world. This study sought to determine which mechanisms of injury were common in a rural developing area and which were important contributors to mortality and disability. METHODS. All 614 patients admitted for injuries to a rural African hospital between 1987 and 1991 were analyzed retrospectively for mechanism of injury and outcome, as assessed by mortality and long-term functional status. RESULTS. The leading mechanisms of injury were transport related (29%) and burns (16%). Burns accounted for 61% of injuries in children under 5 years. Mortality was 7.3% in the series, with 24% of deaths owing to transport injuries. Disability developed in 103 (22%) of the 462 survivors available for assessment, with most disability resulting from transport injuries (26% of all disabilities), burns (13%), and agricultural injuries (14%). CONCLUSIONS. Among injured patients who presented for treatment in this rural developing area, the largest burden of mortality and disability was from burns and transport-related injuries. Population-based studies are needed to substantiate whether these should be priorities for injury prevention efforts.
LA  - 
SN  - 0090-0036
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -