Paediatric road traffic injuries in Lilongwe, Malawi: an analysis of 4776 consecutive cases. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sundet, Mads; Grudziak, Joanna; Charles, Anthony; Banza, Leonard; Varela, Carlos; Young, Sven
• Is Part Of: Tropical doctor. Volume 48:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 322
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Trauma -- paediatric -- Malawi -- road traffic injuries -- epidemiology -- mortality -- head trauma -- injury mechanism; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing Countries -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Tropische geneeskunde; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1177/0049475518790893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0049-4755

Abstract

This was a retrospective review of all children aged ≤16 who were treated in the casualty department at the central hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2015. A total of 4776 children were treated for road traffic injuries (RTIs) in the study period. There was an increase in incidence from 428 RTIs in 2009 to a maximum of 834 in 2014. Child pedestrians represented 53.8% of the injuries, but 78% of deaths and 71% of those with moderate to severe head injuries. Pedestrians were mostly injured by cars (36%) and by large trucks, buses and lorries (36%). Eighty-four (1.8%) children were brought in dead, while 40 (0.8%) children died in the casualty department or during their hospital stay. There has been a drastic increase of RTIs in children in Lilongwe, Malawi. Child pedestrians were most affected, both in terms of incidence and severity.