wow-inequalities/02-data/intermediate/wos_sample/ae175b0cf1023a7f9b06a0a9a72f2e56-nordberg-e/info.yaml

abstract: 'Injuries are common and on increase in most developing countries,

  including sub-Saharan Africa. A large proportion of the injuries are

  caused by road traffic accidents, falls, burns, assaults, bites, stings

  and other animal-related injuries, poisonings, drownings/near-drownings

  and suicide. Globally, injuries are responsible for about five per cent

  of the total mortality, and the overall global annual costs were

  estimated in the late 1980s at around US\$500 billion. The burden and

  pattern of injuries in Africa and other developing areas are poorly

  known and not well studied. The incidence is on the increase, partly due

  to rapid growth of motorised transport and to expansion of industrial

  production without adequate safety precautions. This is a review of data

  on various kinds of injuries in developing countries with a focus on

  sub-Saharan Africa. A computerised search of the relevant literature

  published between 1985 and 1998 was conducted and a manual search of

  journals publishing texts on health in low-income countries and in

  tropical environments was also done. A few studies on injury prevention

  policy and on research related to injury epidemiology and prevention

  have also been identified and included. Bt is concluded that in a

  relatively typical East African area with a total mortality rate of

  1,300/130,000/year, injuries are likely to cause around 100 of these

  deaths. The corresponding total rate of significant injuries is

  estimated at 40,000/100,000/year with a breakdown as tabulated below.

  Estimated incidence of injuries and injury-related deaths in East Africa

  {[}GRAPHICS]

  Although a few surveys and other investigations of injuries have been

  conducted over the years, injury epidemiology and control remain

  under-researched and relatively neglected subject areas. Much needs to

  be done. Collection and analysis of injury data need to be standardised,

  for example regarding age groups, gender disaggregation and severity.

  Injuries and accidents should be subdivided in at least road traffic

  injury, fall, burn, assault, poisoning, drowning, suicide, homicide and

  others, and details regarding time and place, victim and main cause

  should be noted. Morbidity survey field staff should be informed that

  injuries are part of the illness concept and that questions should be

  asked accordingly. Details regarding the circumstances surrounding

  different injuries must be known to those who develop preventive

  programmes. Injury is a public health problem affecting some people more

  than others. Our ordinary environment - the home, the work-site, the

  street or road - represents various kinds of risk, and some of these are

  difficult to eliminate. Not only do we have to accept much of our

  environment with its existing houses, equipment, vehicles, transport

  systems, energy supply, toxic substances etcetera, many also suffer from

  various inherited or acquired conditions that increase the risk. We

  therefore need to develop safer and more ``forgiving{''''} living

  environments where ordinary people can live and move around safely.

  Injury control activities may focus on different categories of injury.

  Road safety measures often include information and education campaigns,

  improved driver training, road design and maintenance, regular vehicle

  safety checks, separation of pedestrians from vehicle traffic, speed

  limits, safety belt, air-bag and helmet use, special training and

  control of public service vehicle drivers, bicycle lane separation, road

  lighting, reflectorised materials on clothing, review of the road

  traffic related legislation and law enforcement, and emergency medical

  services improvement. Domestic injuries can be prevented for example

  with window guards, child barriers at stairs, smoke detectors, clothes

  and furniture in less flammable materials, replacement of open stoves,

  stabilising of open lamps, fire-fighting equipment and practice,

  child-proof poison packaging and storage, safe disposal of toxic waste,

  home safety education of parents, and strict building code enforcement.

  Occupational injuries can largely be prevented if well adapted to the

  work environment. Research is required in several areas. An improved

  facility-based injury recording and reporting system needs to be

  developed and tested. There is need to combine data collection methods,

  such as interview surveys, hospital records, police records, focus group

  discussions and key informant interviews. The outcome of emergency

  medical care and of different forms of transport and referral needs to

  be determined. Different combinations of preventive interventions needs

  to be evaluated. This review is intended as guidance for those who need

  a broad overview of the subject of injury occurrence and prevention in

  Africa, for example in preparation for the development of injury control

  programmes or to help identify issues requiring further research in this

  field.'
affiliation: 'Nordberg, E (Corresponding Author), African Med \& Res Fdn, POB 30125,
  Nairobi, Kenya.

  African Med \& Res Fdn, Nairobi, Kenya.'
author: Nordberg, E
author_list:
- family: Nordberg
  given: E
da: '2023-09-28'
files: []
issn: 0012-835X
journal: EAST AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
keywords-plus: 'ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS; RURAL SWEDISH MUNICIPALITY; NORTHEASTERN OHIO

  TRAUMA; DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES; THIRD-WORLD; SRI-LANKA; CHILDHOOD BURNS;

  UNITED-STATES; RISK-FACTORS; UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES'
language: English
month: DEC
number: 12, S
number-of-cited-references: '372'
pages: S1-S43
papis_id: d662f65fedfbb12ad7f68a0d567c52b4
ref: Nordberg2000injuriespublic
tags:
- review
times-cited: '72'
title: 'Injuries as a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa: Epidemiology and
  prospects for control'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000166195100001
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '36'
volume: '77'
web-of-science-categories: Medicine, General \& Internal
year: '2000'