Whiteside Lauren K, Oteng Rockefeller, Carter Patrick, Amuasi John, Abban Ekua, Rominski Sarah, Nypaver Michelle, Cunningham Rebecca M
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, UM Injury Center 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive Suite H3200, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States of America.
Int J Emerg Med. 2012 Sep 26;5(1):36. doi: 10.1186/1865-1380-5-36.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), injuries represent the largest cause of death among people ages 140 -and contribute to a large burden of disease worldwide. The aims of this study were to characterize the prevalence and relative mechanism of injury among children seeking emergency care and describe the demographics at time of presentation among these children to inform further research in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa.
A prospective cross-sectional survey of pediatric patients (n = 176) was conducted between 13 July 2009 and 30 July 2009 in the Accident and Emergency Center at Komfo Anoche Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana. Participants were asked questions regarding demographics, insurance status, overall health, and chief complaint.
Of the 176 patients surveyed, 66% (n = 116) presented for injuries. The mean age was 4.7 years (range 1.5 months to 17 years), and 68% (n = 120) were male. Of those presenting with injury, 43% (n = 50) had road traffic injuries (RTI). Of the RTIs, 58% (n = 29) were due to being an occupant in a car crash, 26% (n = 13) were pedestrian injuries, and 14% (n = 7) were from motorcycles. There was no significant difference in demographics, health status or indicators of socioeconomic status between injured and non-injured patients.
Among pediatric patients presenting for acute care at KATH during the study time frame, the majority (n = 116, 66%) presented for injuries. To date, there are no studies that characterize pediatric patients that present for acute care in Ghana. Identifying injury patterns and collecting epidemiologic data are important to guide future research and educational initiatives for Emergency Medicine.
根据世界卫生组织（WHO）的数据，伤害是14岁及以下人群的最大死因，并在全球造成了巨大的疾病负担。本研究的目的是描述寻求急诊治疗的儿童中伤害的患病率和相关机制，并描述这些儿童就诊时的人口统计学特征，以为加纳和撒哈拉以南非洲的进一步研究提供信息。
2009年7月13日至2009年7月30日，在加纳库马西的科姆福·阿诺克教学医院（KATH）的急诊中心对儿科患者（n = 176）进行了一项前瞻性横断面调查。参与者被问及有关人口统计学、保险状况、总体健康状况和主要诉求的问题。
在接受调查的176名患者中，66%（n = 116）因受伤就诊。平均年龄为4.7岁（范围为1.5个月至17岁），68%（n = 120）为男性。在受伤就诊的患者中，43%（n = 50）有道路交通伤害（RTI）。在道路交通伤害中，58%（n = 29）是由于乘坐汽车时发生车祸，26%（n = 13）是行人受伤，14%（n = 7）是骑摩托车受伤。受伤患者和未受伤患者在人口统计学、健康状况或社会经济状况指标方面没有显著差异。
在研究时间段内在KATH接受急性护理的儿科患者中，大多数（n = 116，66%）因受伤就诊。迄今为止，尚无研究描述在加纳接受急性护理的儿科患者的特征。识别伤害模式并收集流行病学数据对于指导急诊医学的未来研究和教育举措非常重要。
