Incidence and Risk Factors of Injuries

Abstract

Injuries due to Road Traffic Accident (RTA), domestic accidents, work place injuries and intentional injuries lead to a large number of hospital admissions and cause a huge social and hospital burden. Possible preventive measures could lead to reduce these injuries. Presence ofknowledge gaps in these areas restricts the efficacy of interventions. The study was conducted to assess the incidence of different types of injuries, the risk factors on RTA, and evaluate the incidence and the risk factors for RTA injuries with the individual’s sociodemographic characteristics. Patients admitted with injuries to the Base Hospital Kuliyapitiya over a period of month (n=210) were considered in this descriptive cross-sectional study. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis. Number of admissions due to injuries during period of one month was 210. There were 87.6% (n=184) admissions due to unintentional injuries. Majority 76.2% (n =140) out of them were males. Most common age group that has undergone any type of injury was 31-40 years 21.9% (n=46). Unintentional injuries include RTA, work place accidents, leisure time accidents, injuries caused by violence and domestic accidents which represent by 52. 4% (n=110) 11% (n=23), 9.5% (n=20) 12. 4% (n=26) and 14. 8% (n=31) respectively. When considering RTA, motor bike accidents 58.2% (n=64) have led to most admissions. Risk factors that represent RTA were without driving license (42.9%), without helmet (26.7%), drowsiness (12.5%), alcohol influence (32.1%), dark or rainy day (53.6%), defective road (51.8%) and technical problems (10.7%). Most pedestrians (37.6%) have undergone RTAs while crossing the road. In this study the most common age group that has undergone any type of injury is 31-40 years. Motor bike is the most common vehicle for RTA and majority have not got driving license, and a considerable sample is under the influence of alcohol at the moment. Males have been subjected to injuries 3 times than females.