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Presentation of Pediatric Unintentional Injuries at Rural Hospitals in Rwanda: A Retrospective Study.

ABSTRACT: Background:Injuries are a leading cause of mortality among children globally, with children in low- and middle-income countries more likely to die if injured compared to children in high-income countries. Timely and high-quality care are essential to reduce injury-related morbidity and mortality. Objectives:This study describes patterns, management, and outcomes of children 0-15 years presenting with unintentional injuries at three district hospitals in rural Rwanda between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Methods:Using a retrospective cross-sectional study design, we assessed the demographic and clinical characteristics, care provided, and outcomes of the children using data extracted from patient medical charts. We describe the patient population using frequencies and proportions as well as median and interquartile ranges. Findings:Of the 449 injured children who sought care at the three rural district hospitals, 66.2% (n = 297) were boys. The main causes of injury were falls (n = 261, 58.1%), burns (n = 101, 22.5%), and road traffic injuries (n = 67, 14.9%). Burns were the most common injury among children aged 0-5 years while falls were the leading injury type among the 5-15 years age group. Vital signs were inconsistently completed ranging between 23.8-89.1% of vital sign items. Of the injured children, 37.0% (n = 166) received surgery at the district hospital, general practitioners performed 80.9% (n = 114) of surgeries, 87.4% (n = 145) of operated patients received no anesthesia, and 69.3% (n = 311) were admitted to the district hospital, while 2.7% (n = 12) were transferred to tertiary facilities for higher-level care. Conclusions:The presentation of child injuries-namely falls, burns, and road traffic accidents-is similar to what has been reported in other sub-Saharan African countries. However, more needs to be done to improve the completion and documentation of vital signs and increase availability of surgical specialists. Finally, targeted strategies to prevent burns and motorcycle-related injuries are recommended prevention interventions for this rural population.

SUBMITTER: Bagahirwa I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7500242 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Presentation of Pediatric Unintentional Injuries at Rural Hospitals in Rwanda: A Retrospective Study.

Bagahirwa Irene I Mukeshimana Madeleine M Cherian Teena T Nkurunziza Theoneste T El-Khatib Ziad Z Byiringiro Jean Claude JC Ng'ang'a Loise L Rusingiza Emmanuel E Riviello Robert R Ndayisaba Gilles Francois GF Hedt-Gauthier Bethany L BL

Annals of global health 20200914 1

<h4>Background</h4>Injuries are a leading cause of mortality among children globally, with children in low- and middle-income countries more likely to die if injured compared to children in high-income countries. Timely and high-quality care are essential to reduce injury-related morbidity and mortality.<h4>Objectives</h4>This study describes patterns, management, and outcomes of children 0-15 years presenting with unintentional injuries at three district hospitals in rural Rwanda between Januar ...[more]

PMID: 32983912

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Project description:BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to review the demographic and characteristic distribution data of serious rural pediatric eye injuries in Wenzhou and Changsha, located in Zhejiang Province in East China and Hunan Province in Central China. METHODS:This retrospective study included hospitalized pediatric patients aged <?18?years with eye injuries at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2008 to December 2017. Demographic data, injury types, injury causes, and initial and final visual acuity (VA) were recorded and analyzed. The ocular trauma score (OTS) was calculated to assess the severity of injury and evaluate the prognosis. All patient data were obtained from the medical record systems. RESULTS:In total, 1125 children were hospitalized during the 10-year period; 830 (73.8%) were males and 295 (26.2%) were females. The majority of the patients were aged 3 to 8?years (57.4%, n =?646). Among mechanical injuries (n =?1007), penetrating injury was the most common (68.4%, n =?689), followed by contusion (17.2%, n =?173) and rupture (8.1%, n =?82). Overall, the top three injury causes were sharp objects (n =?544, 48.4%), blunt objects (n =?209, 18.6%) and fireworks (n =?121, 10.8%). In Wenzhou, eye injuries occurred mostly in summer (n =?136, 29.1%), and sharp object-related eye injuries accounted for the highest proportion (n =?98, 72.1%). In Changsha, eye injuries occurred mostly in winter (n =?272, 41.3%), and firecracker- and fireworks-associated eye injury accounted for the highest proportion (n =?73, 26.8%). The final VA was positively correlated with the initial VA (r =?0.641, P <?0.001) and the OTS (r =?0.582, P <?0.001). CONCLUSION:The age range of the susceptible pediatric population from rural areas was 3-8?years. Most eye injuries were penetrating, and the main cause of injury was a sharp object. Notably, the differences in the characteristics of eye injuries in the two areas were related to regional features.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Hypertension management in rural, resource-poor settings is difficult. Detailed understanding of patient, clinician and logistic factors which pose barriers to effective blood pressure control could enable strategies to improve control to be implemented. METHODS:This cross-sectional, multifactorial, observational study was conducted at four rural Rwandan district hospitals, examining patient, clinician and logistic factors. Questionnaires were administered to consenting adult outpatient hypertensive patients, obtaining information on sociodemographic factors, past management for hypertension, and adherence (by Morisky Medication Adherence 8-item Scale (MMAS-8). Treating clinicians identified local difficulties in providing hypertension management from a standard World Health Organisation list and nominated their preferred treatment regimens. Blood pressure measurements and other clinical data were collected during the study visit and used to determine blood pressure control, according to goals from JNC-8 guidelines. Medication availability and cost at each hospital's pharmacy were reviewed as logistic barriers to treatment. RESULTS:The 112 participating patients were 80% female, with only 41% having completed primary education. Self-reported adherence by the MMAS-8 was high in 77% (86/112) and significantly associated) with literacy, lack of medication side effects and the particular hospital and pharmacy attended (all p?<?0.05). However, of 89 patients with blood pressure data, only 26 (29%) had achieved goal blood pressure. No patient factor were statistically associated with poor blood pressure control. Among 30 participating clinicians, deficiencies in knowledge were evident; 43% (13/30) and 37% (11/30) chose a loop diuretic as their prescribed medication and as an ideal medication, respectively, for a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient without comorbidities, counter to JNC 8 recommendations, and 50% (15/30) identified clinician non-adherence to hypertension guidelines as a barrier. In the pharmacies, common anti-hypertensive medications were affordably available (>?6 out of 8 examined medications available in all pharmacies, cost <US$0.50 per month); however, clinicians perceived medication cost and availability to be barriers to care. CONCLUSIONS:Clinician-based factors are a major barrier to blood pressure control in rural district hospitals in Rwanda, and blood pressure control overall was poor. Patient and logistic barriers to blood pressure were not evident in this study.

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Presentation of Pediatric Unintentional Injuries at Rural Hospitals in Rwanda: A Retrospective Study.

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Presentation of Pediatric Unintentional Injuries at Rural Hospitals in Rwanda: A Retrospective Study.

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