CAUSES OFtRAUMATIC INJURIES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN HIWOT FANA SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, HARAR, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Trauma or injury is a health problem across lifespan, ranking in the top ten causes of death and projected to rank as the 4th leading cause of disability adjusted life years by 2030 globally.In developing countries, approximately 16,000 people die every day from all types of injuries. Ethiopia is one of the countries in the region where injuries are a major cause of health problems that commonly appear as one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality. Similarly, injury is the second most common cause of all mortalities in Ethiopia The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of injury among patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED) of Hwot Fana Specialized University Hospital In HarariRegional State, Ethiopia. Objectives: Objectives of this study was to assess traumatic injuries and its associated factors in patients visiting Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia from March 15, 2020 – April 15, 2020. Methods: The study was conducted using cross sectional study design. The study area was Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital. The study period was from March 15,2020 – April 15, 2020.The source populations were all patients who visit emergency at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital from January 2018 – December 2019 was include in the study. A total of 375 patients was included in the study. Data was collected using structured data collecting format. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.Descriptive statistics were carried out. Bivariable and multivariable analysis were used. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables were assessed using adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Finally, the variables that have p-value less than 0.2 were considered as statistically significant. Results:The prevalence of injury found was 71.7% at 95% CI (66.4, 76.7%). Being single [AOR 4.13, 95% CI (1.74, 9.81)] significantly associated with traumatic injury. Patient those who were younger than 30 years were 5 times more likely to develop traumatic injury compared to older than 30 years [AOR 5.20, 95% CI(2.07, 13.07)],where as those regular khat chewers [AOR 7.56, 95% CI, (3.80, 15.00)] showed more injury than not user of khat. Conclusions:Prevalence of traumatic injury was found high in the study population. Of the study variables, age, marital status and use ofkhat were significantly associated with injuries. Thetraumatic injury was mostly occurred due to violence and motor vehicle accidents which are easily preventable.