Prevalence and Associated Factors for Injuries Among Patients Admitted in Accident and Emergency Unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital Between 2012 and 2014.

Abstract

This study was titled, “prevalence and associated factors for injuries among patients admitted in accident and emergency unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital between 2012 to 2014”. Injuries have been understood as inescapable realities of everyday life in both developed and developing countries. World Health Organization (2012) estimates that injuries constitute 16 percent of the global burden of disease, which translates into 5.8 million injury-related deaths at a rate of 97.9 per 100,000 worldwide. They also account for between 10 and 30 percent of all hospital admissions and render at least 78 million people disabled each year. The study had to identify the prevalence and factors associated with injuries among patients admitted in Accident and Emergency Unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital between 2012 and 2014. To achieve the study objectives, the researcher had to establish the prevalence of injuries, human factors associated with injuries and occupational related factors of injuries among patients admitted in Accident and Emergency Unit of Mulago national referral hospital between 2012 and 2014. This study used a cross sectional research design with a population of 100 patients from which a sample of 80 using Kish Leslie (1980) formula. The required sample was selected using stratified and convenience random techniques. Data used in the study was obtained with the help of the questionnaire method, which was cleaned, edited, coded and computed using SPSS to obtain frequency tables which were used in analysis of findings. The study found out that high prevalence rate of injuries caused by automobiles. The hospital facility was also found not to have enough facilities to cater for the increasing admissions of injury related patients. The human related factors that contributed to this high prevalence were failure to undergo through training and drunk driving. Failure to wear protective gears and over engagement in the transport sector was the major occupational factors for the prevalence of injuries. the study recommended that government should put up stringent traffic rules and regulations, improve infrastructures especially the road network, ensure that people train before they engage in driving as well as erecting laws directed towards employers who do not provide protective gears, carrying put sensitization campaigns as well as improvement of health care were emphasized . The study indicated that the effect of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAPs) on the prevalence of injuries among patients admitted at Mulago National Referral hospital and effect of government intervention in mitigating injuries within community members should be conducted. The researcher concluded that the prevalence of injuries is high as many have repeatedly been affected with some sort of injury. It is indicated that at least 72 in every 100 patients that are admitted as a result of injury related illnesses have ever been affected by another injury and this has contributed to the prevalence of 97 in every 100 people that face injuries of a sort in every year. The researcher recommended that Government should put up stringent traffic rules and regulations in order to mitigate illegal driving. Through the Uganda Police Force, Traffic department should ensure that all people who go on the road without the required credentials should be penalized and imprisoned for their deeds in order to ensure that unqualified people do not go on the road; these laws will also curb drunken driving tendencies that are paramount within the country.